God's Word for Me Today
Friday, December 28, 2001
Unwrapping a Christ-Centered Christmas!
A note about online study
Introduction to God's Word for Me Today
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, today’s Scripture is so short, yet so powerful! I know that apart from Jesus, we all deserve to die. I know that apart from Jesus there is no salvation for anyone. I thank You and praise You that You did not leave me dead in my sins, but that You sent Jesus to give me a new life. I pray this day, O God that You will work that new life in me, through me and all around me, not only I, but all who meet me this day may experience the joy and power of Your great gift of salvation through Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.
God's Word for Me Today: Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Questions for Reflection
What is the simplest concept you have ever learned that has made a profound impact on your life?
What is the one biblical truth that has most impacted you during the past year? Why?
Questions for Exploration
According to this text, what is the only way to receive eternal life? (6:23)
What does Paul say is the ultimate result of sin?
Questions for Understanding
What does it mean that the “wages” of sin is death?
What is Jesus’ role in our salvation?
Questions for Application
What sins do you need to repent of (turn away from) today? Confess them to God and ask for His Spirit to release you from their power today.
What will be different about the way you live today, because you know that Jesus has given you the gift of eternal life?
Fair Wages!
In this time of economic downturn, many folks are without a job. In fact, as I write these words (Friday, December 7), I have heard this morning that the unemployment rate in America is at its highest rate in six years. Folks are more concerned about jobs than they have been for a long time. Yet even in the midst of such times, we still want to receive “fair” wages. What are “fair” wages. That often depends on whom we ask. If we take a world-wide survey, we find that most of the world’s workers find themselves barely receiving enough to buy food and shelter, indeed millions don’t even receive that. Here in America, we consider a “fair” wage to be much more than just enough to get by from day to day. But in biblical terms “fair” wages mean death to each one of us. The Apostle Paul tells us that the wages of sin is death. Is that fair? Is it fair that you and I go to hell, because we can’t keep the law of God? Well, since God is the one who sets the rules, it is most certainly fair. God, created us and therefore owns us. That means He has the right to decide what’s fair. Since He is just and holy we know that He will be fair and do what’s fair, so when He tells us that the wages of sin is death, we must conclude that the wages are fair.
That puts all of us in an eternal predicament. We are born as sinners, (thanks to our ancestors Adam and Eve), so even if we haven’t sinned yet, we are still sinners. We aren’t sinners because we’ve sinned. We sin because we’re sinners! Our nature ensures that we will receive the wage of sin—death. That is the bad news—the eternal and certain bad news. We are all on a direct flight to hell, and there’s nothing WE can do about it. But there is something God has done about it. God created us. God loves us infinitely. God does not desire that even one person end up in hell, so He sent Jesus to “hijack” the plane of sin and death that’s headed for hell with us aboard, and offer us a gift. Remember what Paul said, “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Wow! God requires that we receive the “wages” for our sin. The wages are death. But God is willing to take those wages and give us a free gift---eternal life.
Think about it! We give our wages for sin to God. He receives them and in return gives us a gift—eternal life. He gives us life in exchange for our certain death! What’s the catch? There is no catch. We must receive the gift, claim it, and then we must live into the new life, the eternal life with Jesus as our Lord. A Lord is a master, one who controls our decisions, our actions, our lives. So, we can live our lives in sin, accumulate the wages of sin---death; or we can give those wages over to God and receive the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ! This seems too simple, doesn’t it? It is THAT simple. The thing that keeps us from experiencing the fullness of this amazing offer from God is that Satan convinces us that sin and death are more fun that holiness and eternal life. Satan convinces us that Jesus can’t deliver. (Actually few folks ever actually take Jesus up on His offer with 100% commitment. Those who do, find that the Jesus can and does deliver.) Satan convinces us that nothing is free in life, that we have to work for it. But God isn’t bound by Satan’s economy. He has created His own, where salvation is free, a gift, which once received will transform everything we are and do. The key is accepting the gift! Let’s do it!
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