365 Days with God - Day 66: Earned or Given?

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 66, February 24, 2014

Readings: Psalm 66 Exodus 11:1-10, Exodus 12:1-30, Ezra 2, Romans 4

 What's the difference between something given and something earned? What does it matter if someone gives you $50 for doing a task, vs someone giving you $50 for your birthday?

One is a gift. One is payment.

One is expected, owed, a debt to be paid.

One is unexpected, freely given, an outpouring of love.

Jesus is a gift. God sent the very best that He has for us. No dollar tree, made in china junk for us. No, God sent His own son. We didn't earn it. We can't earn it. We can't demand payment from God for our good deeds, our prayers prayed or hours spent reading the Bible. Because even if we did, it would never be enough. Nothing we could ever do could be worth the life of Jesus, God's perfect gift. And so we must accept that Christ is something we can never earn. Something we must be grateful for.

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness (Romans 4:2-5b)