Daily Thought for Monday, April 4th

April 4, 2011

Wages vs. Gifts

“I’ve been poor with millions of dollars, and I’ve been rich when I was broke. Money never gave m any real joy, but with God in my heart I’m a rich man no matter what.”

- George Foreman

Today’s Thought:

“What I kept, I lost.  What I spent, I had.  What I gave, I have.” – A Persian Proverb

Today’s Question

Have you heard the idiom “A penny saved is a penny earned?”  And did you know that, “A gift is pure when it is given from the heart to the right person at the right time and at the right place, and when we expect nothing in return.” – Bhagavad Gita

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

– The Bible (Romans 6:23)

Wages are earned – gifts are given.  No one gives you what you earn: you get that for your self.

In Gods’ spiritual economy we earn the wages of death and hell; but being a loving, merciful and gracious God; He has afforded us the opportunity to receive life by giving the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.

We earn many things in this life, money or wages for a job done; respect or disrespect depending on our attitudes and actions, recognition or a lack thereof contingent upon our accomplishments; but with God we can never do anything worthy of earning life and forgiveness, it is simply a gift.

“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful,and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” – The Bible (Titus 3:3-6)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” – The Bible (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Aren’t you glad God is willing to give us what He desires for us to have rather that what we are capable of earning for ourselves?
In order for God’s gift to have its intended value, it must be received, accepted and embraced.
God says, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”  - The Bible (Mark 16:16)  He also says, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” – The Bible (Acts2:21)

There is absolutely nothing we can do to earn, purchase or acquire God’s gift, we must simply believe and receive it.

Do you have God’s gift?

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” – The Bible (Romans 10:13)

Today’s Verses:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

                        John 3:16

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

John 10:9-11

Today’s Prayer:

Father, thank you that you do not give me what I earn, but rather you give me grace and mercy, forgiveness and salvation instead.  Because of you I have the hope of life in Heaven, rather than eternity in Hell.