Ephesians 1:5a – God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. (NLT)

I've worked in places where benefits were good, places where they were meagre, and places where they were nonexistent.

While a good salary might attract us to a particular job, benefits enhance the chance that we'll actually apply for the position. If my salary is good, but I must pay an enormous monthly premium for insurance, my salary diminishes tremendously. Here in the USA, if I choose not to get insurance, I must pay my total medical cost out of pocket. I remember one prospective employer saying as she offered me a position, "I can't offer you a good salary, but I can give you wonderful benefits." I took the job.

Employment benefits are excellent, but spiritual benefits outweigh them. I can be set in life and lose in eternity. I can meet all my medical needs through my insurance plan and still miss heaven. God chooses to adopt me into His family, just as an employer offers me a job and then hires me. Unless God reaches out to me, I won't reach out to Him. But when I do, the benefits far surpass any that I'll find in an earthly job.

As God's adopted children, we receive everything that His Son does — and that's everything. We're in the already-not-yet stage. It's ours; we just don't own it outright now. But it's in the works. We also receive complete and total forgiveness for all past, present, and future sins. None will ever be charged to our account again. Christ paid for them on the cross. God sends His Spirit to indwell us continuously and give us constant guidance and wisdom.

Along with the Spirit come gifts. These we're privileged to use in service to God and others. Best of all, we'll benefit from living with God in a new heaven and on a new earth.

Choose to enjoy the benefits that God offers by becoming His child.

Prayer: Father, thank You for all the benefits that are ours because we have the privilege of being called Your children. Amen.

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About the author:

Martin Wiles <mandmwiles@gmail.com>
Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
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