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Themes: "Grace, Not of Works A.J.H. Martin Scheener had been a success. Over 30 years ago he had started his own electrical firm in New York. It had prospered through his hard work and the work of devoted employees. He ran the company like one big family and was very close to his workers.
Now word came to everyone that after thirty years, the company had been sold. Many of the old timers wondered what would happen. On the last day, they were hoping to see the president and to say good bye.
At 3:30PM on April 16th, an employee who had been with the company for 29 of its thirty years and was the president's right hand man, called all the longtime employees together. One by one names were called and one by one an envelop was given to each one. In the envelop was a letter, hand written, from the president. In it he expressed his appreciation and praise for all their hard work.
But there was something more. Attached to each letter were fifty dollars bills: one for each month the employee had worked with the company. Each one who had worked to make the company a success received honor and a reward for their hard work. They were not forgotten.
But people who never worked for Scheener received nothing. They had never joined the company and had never done anything for Scheener.
God's salvation is not a reward which we receive for working for God. His salvation is a gift. Many people are working hard to try and get God's salvation as though they could earn it. The Bible says: "The GIFT of God is eternal life." Rom. 6:23. And again, "By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the GIFT of God, not of works lest any man should boast." Eph.2:8,9.
We cannot get to heaven by our good deeds or hard work. It is only through what the Lord Jesus did at Calvary that we can be saved. The Bible says that we "are together become unprofitable" Rom.3:12.
But once we are saved, we are part of the family of God. We are able to work for the Lord Jesus Christ. He promises a reward to all those who faithfully serve Him. The greatest thing about this reward is that we will be able to give it back to Him.
One of David's generals never made it into David's honor roll. His General Joab did many great deeds. But he did them all for himself, not out of love to David. He had never crowned David as Lord in his heart. He received no reward from David. Many people are busy and active in religion to try and earn a place in heaven. But if they do not accept God's free gift, they will miss heaven and the chance to work for the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Shelly McKenna
