Marie’s daily verse: When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place.
6The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
PSALM 118:5-6
DAILY DEVOTION, January 22, 2023
Romans 6:23: “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This is a “good news, bad news” verse. The bad news is in the first clause: “The wages of sin is death. We know that wages refer to what we have earned. I receive wages from the Warsaw Christian Church for various duties I perform as a pastor. We also know what “sin” is. It refers to thoughts, words, and deeds carried out in conflict with the will of God. Since we have all sinned more often than we can recount, we have earned wages, namely death. Unfortunately, that death is an eternal separation from God and His love.
Thank God for the good news! We move now from wages to “gift.” The gift of God is eternal life. Why not wages? Don’t we try to live a good life, and as a result, we earn God’s favor? Please don’t fall into that trap. If you really want wages from God, all you will receive is eternal death. None of us are good enough to merit God’s favor. The good news is that God has a gift for us, the gift of eternal life. A gift is different from a wage. A gift is freely given.
The gift of God is not given unconditionally. It is received through Jesus Christ, our Lord. The gift is for “whoever believes in Him.” (John 3:16). When God sees true faith in Jesus, He says, “I have a gift for you. All your sins are forgiven, and eternal life is yours.” Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15).
Dear Father, I confess that I have offended you time and time again. I am so sorry. I want to do better. Thank you for your promise that eternal life is a gift. I trust in Your Son as my Savior and Lord, and I receive the gift You so graciously offer. Thanks be to you, O God, for Your unspeakable gift. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Warsaw Christian Church 