Romans 6:23

Do you remember working at your first real job and receiving your first paycheck? It's an incredible feeling to earn the wages that you've just worked so hard for. I remember the feeling of accomplishment and joy from a job well done. But when we examine our lives through this "wages" metaphor, what payment do we deserve? The apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans tells us exactly what we have earned--the payment we should receive for the sin in our life is death. That sounds like really bad news for us, but it doesn't have to be. Instead of receiving the paycheck you deserve (death), God has instead offered us the paycheck that someone else earned. Christ lived a perfect life that we couldn't live, and He willingly died the death that we should have died. He wrote His name on our work, and wrote our name on His work. That is an incredible gift!

PASSAGE: Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

PAUSE: Good news is always associated with bad news. The bad news is that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and deserve death for our sins. The good news is that eternal life in Christ Jesus is absolutely free! 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess that I have sinned against you, and I don’t deserve your mercy or grace. I accept your free gift of salvation and rejoice!