"God dispenses gifts, not wages. None of us gets paid according to merit, for none of us comes close to satisfying God’s requirements for a perfect life. If paid on the basis of fairness, we would all end up in hell… In the bottom line realm of ungrace, some workers deserve more than others; in the realm of grace the word ‘deserve’ does not even apply."

This is a quote from Philip Yancey's book: "What’s So Amazing About Grace?" Zondervan, 1997

Our Daily Bread had a daily devotion this week on this, written by Philip Yancey.

Yancey also said "Grace means there is nothing I can do to make God love me more, and nothing I can do to make God love me less", a concept that has been picked up in many worship songs. We can't earn love. Love and grace are gifts dispensed to us.

Grace is more powerful to change us and make us righteous than law is. Grace is received by the humble and repentant. It prompts a heart of gratefulness, and motivates us to pursue holiness. It changes us from the inside out, not the outside in.