O my God, incline Your ear and hear…for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Daniel 9:18-19
The saints through the ages would all testify that it is incumbent upon us to give the Lord our very best, all the while understanding that our very best does not earn our salvation. But it needs to be said that our salvation is not a commodity; it is not a thing to be earned, or even received as a gift. Our salvation is a Person, a relationship with the Lord Himself made possible because of His great mercy.
