Friday, June 28 - Romans 3

FREE GIFT

²¹ But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²² This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.


   Generally, in life, we learn that we earn our keep -- we get what we pay for -- that success and failure are often based on hard work, sweat effort, and good choices.  And we rejoice at the good things we have because we deem them representative of our industriousness.

 
   Paul reminds the Romans that God's earthly blessings are showered upon both the righteous and the unrighteous, and that His grace is not given in proportion to our sweat effort.  Rather, His grace is a free gift that comes to us even when we do not deserve it.

  
   Even more is this true when it comes to eternity.  Jesus did it ALL!  We did nothing to earn or merit His salvation.


  
   We need to remember this as we deal with those who struggle to earn a living.  Perhaps, rather than say, "so sad for them,"  we are instead called to help provide for them through the blessings God has first given to us.  When we see these blessings as gifts that are entrusted to our care, (rather than representative of our "earnings") it becomes even easier to share them. 


 
  May God bless you as you offer God's gifts to bless the poor, the weak, and those in need.