Caribbean Moravian Devotions

If there is one movie that you need to see for sure is 42. It is an inspiring story of the life of Jackie Robinson as he broke through the racial barrier in major league baseball in the USA in the 1940’s. The movie is not just about the game of baseball. It highlights the strength and heroic character of one man who by his actions and ‘guts’ in the face of racism made a way for other black baseball players to be accepted as equals in the major league. But who really BENEFITTED because of Jackie Robinson? Black baseball players of course! But in a sense the BENEFITS from what Robinson accomplished went well beyond opening up the doors for black baseball players. As I watched the movie 42 I couldn’t help but think that the same way one man’s action can BENEFIT so many who came after him, we cannot afford to forget all the BENEFITS that are ours because of what God has done through Christ. With that in mind our FF for today is YOU BENEFIT!

If youÂ’ve ever had to take out a life insurance policy you must be able to indicate who will be the BENERFICIARY of this investment after you die. In writing your final will and testament you also have to decide who will BENEFIT from inheriting what youÂ’ve left behind. Usually, we want to ensure that the one who BENEFIT from us is deserving of what he/she receives! And so usually the person named in the will or on the insurance policy is a family member or very close friend who in our minds merits this special honour. And yet if for some reason that close relationship is strained then there are some people who may not hesitate to go and change the names of the one who would have originally BENEFITTED. The truth is nobody wants to lose their BENEFITS because thereÂ’s so much at stake. Little wonder that with companies downsizing each day, employees fear not only losing their jobs because that means the loss of income but are sometimes ever more afraid of also losing their health BENEFITS and other advantages that come with the job.

But there is one time in life where there is no danger of loss of BENEFITS. And it is when we consider our position in Christ. When our BENEFITS are tied to our performance and how likeable we are, we are constantly aiming to please those who can decide whether or not we can enjoy such BENEFITS. But not so with God! YOU BENEFIT not so much because of what you do or donÂ’t but rather because of GodÂ’s grace, divine favour and tender mercy. There are some spiritual BENEFITS which God has made ours and guess what they are ours to keep! HereÂ’s just a few: God has made us joint-heirs with Christ in the heavenly places (Rom. 8: 17). YOU BENEFIT when you have received the seal of the Holy Spirit as an installment of what is still to come (2 Cor. 1: 22). YOU BENEFIT in recalling that we have been made the Temple of God since we have been bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:20). The truth is YOU BENEFIT naturally and spiritually.

But letÂ’s not think for moment that this is a trade-off between us and God. We live for God and serve God not primarily because YOU BENEFIT. Even if there were no tangible BENEFITS, living a life pleasing to God is a BENEFIT all by itself that well worth it. And better yet when you live for God not only do YOU BENEFIT but others too will BENEFIT as they experience God through you. Yes there are BENEFITS to be had in living for God. But the good news is that YOU BENEFIT in ways unimaginable from knowing God!

Mikie Roberts (Rev)
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http://moravians.net/serendipity/index.php?/categories/1-Friday-Focus