This verse follows directly after yesterday’s verses about salvation coming from faith alone, through grace alone — not by works. Growing up, I always had this turned around. I believed that my good works were what I needed to do in order to secure my salvation.
It wasn’t until I got a little older that I started to see the effects of how living that way impacted my relationship with God and others. For starters, everything was a burden and an obligation, an opportunity to prove myself. On the contrary, when I started to learn how to freely receive God’s grace through faith, I actually became more free to do the good works that God had for me. When doing good works was separated from trying to earn salvation and/or God’s love and acceptance, I was able to walk more confidently and discover more of what God had prepared for me to do. What an honor it is that He has not only saved us but has also given us the free opportunity, as His own handiwork, to partner with Him as He continues to draw others to His grace and salvation!