Whenever we listen to a sermon and receive grace we pat ourselves on the back for being awake or understanding what the preacher was talking about. But we didn’t do anything worth our thanks. God did. He is the one who opened our eyes and ears to the message. He is the one who guided the preacher throughout the sermon. He is the one we should thank.
Ephesians 1:15-16 NIV
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
Here Paul was talking to the church of Ephesus and telling them that he is thankful for them and not to them. But weren’t they the ones who chose to have faith in Jesus? But Jesus was the one to choose them.
It wasn’t anything I did to receive grace. It wasn’t anything the preacher did that I received grace. It was through God that I received grace.
God did it.