We all love getting something for nothing. But what we don’t much care for is someone else getting something for nothing. We feel cheated as though it should have been us rather than them. It is crucial, however, that we realize that all of us get everything for nothing. We deserve nothing. We have earned nothing. All that we have – our life, our daily bread, the good that we enjoy – all of these things are free gifts of God. And chief among all those free gifts is the gift of eternal salvation. We are not worthy of salvation. There’s no amount of work that we could do that would merit God’s only Son laying down His life to spare us our just judgment. But that is what He has done. And He has done it for all. How truly marvelous that God is rich in mercy and bestows upon sinners something they could never hope to have earned by themselves – forgiveness and eternal life! Let us not begrudge His goodness or imagine that we have somehow worked harder than others. Instead, let us gather together to the generous Master and receive the gifts of His abundant generosity! I look forward to seeing you this coming Lord’s Day.
Pastor Ulmer