Today’s reading: Romans 4:13-25; 2 Kings 5:9-14

Wash and be cleansed.

2 Kings 5:13

A gift, freely given, with no expectation of anything in return.

When I receive a gift that I’m expecting, although I very much appreciate the thought and effort, my initial response is that I don’t have a gift to offer in return or that I didn’t do anything to deserve the gift.

That’s what came to mind with today’s verses. A free gift from God for me? I sure haven’t done anything to deserve God’s promise! Quite the opposite, as a sinner. Similar to Naaman from our second reading, I expect to have to do more or do something that appears to take more effort. Surely it can’t be that simple! Not always easy, but simple.

Have faith in God’s promise that He will consider us righteous, when by faith we receive our free gift from God, Jesus our Lord. He died because of our sins and was raised to life to make us right with God. Wow, what a gift!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for your love and free gift of Jesus! Lead and guide us daily to continue to grow our faith so we can bring You glory.

Contributed by Mari Kreft