He gave Me A "D"

It is always funny when students get their report cards and start comparing their grades to others in the class. I always hear things like, "I can't believe Mr. Skipper gave you a B and me a D. I guess he likes you more than he likes me." Some students just don't get it. Some never make the connection between their study ethic and their grades. I truly never give them their grades; They earn those grades, either good or bad. All I can do as a teacher is help them as much as possible, encourage them to study diligently at home, and pray they do the right thing. I can't think of much that would be worse than arbitrarily assigning a student a grade that they didn't earn. I would not be able to look myself in the mirror.

Thank God He does not give us what we deserve! If He did, heaven would be about as empty as my bank account on the last day of the month. In a sense, we adults are like those students of mine. We don't always do our best either. We fail, and sometimes miserably. But luckily, instead of God giving us a "bad grade", He gives us an A every time we ask Him to forgive us. He gives us an unlimited amount of "retakes and "do-overs"" on our "tests". What patience! The only way my students can pass my class is by their hard work. In contrast, the only way I can get to heaven is by God's sweet Grace. How do we initiate God's Grace? We Ask Him! It is just that simple!

John 6:47 says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life."

Father, thank you for saving us. Remind us that we do works for You not TO be saved, but BECAUSE we are saved. In Jesus name, Amen.