Not a Rewards Card, Its a Gift Card

       Today just about every place you go to conduct business has a "rewards program" where you earn extra benefits by doing things that the company wants you to do ..... mostly spending more money.  If you come every day and earn a sticker for purchases, you eventually get a bonus discount of something like that.  It is a way to encourage us to do good things.  We are said to be in the "club" or a part of the "team."   Points are credited to us and we achieve different level of loyalty.  We are attracted to this idea of being able to do things to create a new status level.

In reading Romans chapter 4, Paul is writing concerning "righteous standing" before God through faith in Jesus Christ.  He explains that righteousness is not a level of achievement.  He uses the example of Abraham, father of the Jewish nation,(and more as we will see.)  God made a promise to Abraham that although he and his wife are old, 90 and 100 years, he would be the father of many nations and have more offspring than could be counted.  At one point in the account in Genesis, it states that Abraham believed God and his faith was counted as righteousness.  Genesis 15

  Not that Abraham earned this status of righteousness before God by obeying a set of laws or by earning it as a wage for hard work, but that he believed God.  Righteousness through faith.

The righteousness that was credited to Abraham was a gift and a blessing from God, because of God's grace upon him.  God blessed Abraham because God wanted to.  God has also given us a promise that we can believe. He has given it to us as a gift, not a reward.  

That promise is explained by Paul again in Romans 4:24-25  "23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.


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

God's Kind of Life

     We have so many choices today of how to live our lives.  Even those who are determined to follow the Lord have to wade through so many distractions and temptations that the can easily be fooled and led astray if they are not paying attention and choosing to focus greatly on God's guidance.
     In Psalm 19, the writer begins by reminding us of how the creations of God, even if we just focus on the sky above, tell of the greatness of God, his wisdom, and power.  It reminds us of how he has organized the sun to heat and light each day and for the night to reveal the mass expanse of his knowledge in the universe.
     Then it is revealed that God is also complete in his understanding of how we should live a life free of complication, unnecessary stresses, enlightenment for our minds, and how the most valuable aspect of our lives is our trust in the Lord.  God has not only revealed his identity in nature, but in a special way as he has provided scripture to help us live according to His ways which are the best ways to live the life he has planned for us.
     Following the commandments, precepts, and laws he has revealed to us, provide us with a life free of complication, but also a pathway that will bring us good results even when we do not fully understand where we are headed.  We will also not be guilty of sin against God which bring separation, loneliness, and all else that results from living our lives alone, outside of God's will.
     Let us meditate on and speak into our lives, the revealed, acceptable, and blessed ways of God, our Creator and Lord.

    
   

Psalm 19:7-14English Standard Version (ESV)


The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;

the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;

the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;

the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.


Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.


Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.