ROMANS 5:12-17 – Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.”
THEME OF THE DAY: THE GOD OF ABUNDANT GIFTS. Before we dive into today’s nugget, pause, and obey the following scripture for a few moments. I know it will be hard to do for a few moments because the list is very long – Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits (Psalm 103:2). Another way to say this would be “Obey the hymn Count Your Blessings and name them one by one.” Oh, by the way, doing this is the way to defeat the sin of complaining. Instead of grumbling about what we don’t have, count all the blessings we do. Such a practice will drive away the spirit of complaining quickly. Okay, now the nugget . . .
Of all things we praise God for, the chief one might be His over-the-top abundant nature and acts of being the God who gives freely and lavishly to His children. The Apostle Paul told the Corinthian church and us this truth that affirms the giving nature of God – For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (1 Corinthians 4:7). What is the answer to his second question, “What do you have that you did not receive?” Nothing. Everything in life is a gift from God. We earn nothing. We merit nothing. We deserve nothing. All we are and have come from the God of abundant gifts. Think about this. What if God wasn’t the God of amazing grace that gives us all things from that grace? We would not know Him. We would have no hope. We would be doomed and destined to receive the one thing we have earned, merited, and deserve from Him – His wrath leading to eternal separation and damnation from Him. Yet, this isn’t our God. He gives and gives and gives. Are we living life with gratitude and thanksgiving because He does? Or do we sadly take for granted His endless gifts of grace bestowed upon us?
Well, a great place to start living with thanksgiving for the many free gifts God gives us is in today’s scripture. Take time and read it again marking the times the words “free gift” appear. They allx point to the free gift of being made right, justified before our holy God. As we meditate on this truth, ponder long and hard the word “free” and in doing so it is free to us but not to God. He gave His precious Son and that precious Son gave His life. Oh, what a God of abundant gifts! May we live with more awareness leading to more praise for His amazing grace of giving!
PRAYER: “Father, what a great God You are who showers me with so many gifts from Your grace.”
QUOTE: “When tempted to complain over what we don’t have, stop and praise God for what we do.”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim