Romans 3: 23 - 24 March 14, 2014

Alfred Shropshire    

Romans 3: 23 - 24      

March 14, 2014      

Everyone has sinned and is far away from God’s saving presence.  24 But by the free gift of God’s grace, all are put right with him through Christ Jesus who sets them free.

Did you purchase a Mega Millions or Powerball lottery ticket last week?  Did you return to Publishers Clearing House the three letters you got last week offering you the chance to win ”$5,000.00 a week for life”?   Before these get-rich-quickly schemes or state lotteries reached fruition, there was a TV series called “The Millionaire,” airing from January, 1955 to June, 1960.

It told the stories of people who were given one million dollars, tax free, by a benefactor whom they did not know and would never meet.   Beneficiaries were shown in a typical life situation before receiving their gift.  They were not always poor persons and could be from any social class or occupation.  After legal papers were signed and the check presented, the show covered how the gift affected the recipients lives, which often did not change for the better. 

All of us fantasize about what we would do with that big jackpot, should Lady Luck look our way.  At the top of most winners list is paying off debt, followed by donating to charities, buying a home or new car, etc.  

Even without obtaining that big financial win, we have already hit the jackpot and had our greatest debt, sin, wiped out by Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Because of that unselfish act, God’s grace abounds in our lives.   In a Lenten mediation, author Mitch Finley writes, “ We always pray for mercy, while finding it so easy to withhold mercy from others.  Mercy doesn’t say, ‘It’s okay you did what you did.’  Mercy says, ‘It’s not okay what you did, but I’ll forgive you and give you another chance to do it right.’  Mercy carries with it forgiveness and compassion, and since God is merciful to us, we are to show mercy to one another.  Now there’s a discipline for Lent.”

Yes!  We are all sinners, because the Gospel is easy to talk about, but difficult to live.  However, with God’s grace, it’s well within the reach of everyone.    

God our loving Father, help us to meditate on the word of the Gospel prayerfully, but even more, help us to live it each day.