I'm an engineer, and sometimes God speaks to me through math and physics. Somehow, seeing it visually in a context familiar to me as an engineer is far more powerful than hearing the words alone. I came across Romans 11:5-6 the other day:
"5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace."
The very essence of grace is that it is not dependent on works. If y is God's love, and x is my works (what I can do or achieve for God), then y is a constant independent of x.
But far too often, I operate with this assumption: The harder I work, the more God will love me.
Praise be to God that this is not true!

