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

Once again, Summer for this teacher has gone by quickly.  As I type this, I’m just a few hours from heading back to work to begin my 27^th year.  I have enjoyed my time over these past couple of months greatly.  I’ve been cruising to Key West and Cozumel with my family, met lots of new people playing music, and even been used of the Lord by preaching His Word.

If I’m honest, I’ve probably spent the least amount of one-on-one time with the Lord this Summer when compared with other Summers.  I always think on that last day of school that I will spend all this time with Him . . . but then I just start doing other things.  I end up going through the motions and end up feeling far away from the Lord that I claim to love and serve.

But then . . . God just shows up!  He shows me that comfort and ease are very dangerous.  He helps me realize that I don’t want to begin a school year without His mercy, His grace, His power, and His hand on my life.  I read Ephesians 6, dust off my armor, and I put it on.  

To this day, an amazing thing about God is how He does not live in time.  He is never in a hurry like I am.  He literally has all the time in the world.  He allows me to choose a path, not like where it leads, and then pick me up and place me immediately back on the right path.  It makes me love and appreciate Him so much.  It makes me know that He has got me!  He is the author and finisher of my salvation!  I belong to Him!

I was really thinking about the cost of sin recently.  We American Christians tend to think of sin as being murderous, rebellious, and slanderous.  These are merely symptoms, not the source.  If the greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God, then the greatest sin is simply to not love Him.  How easy it is to drift away from the very first commandment!

There are two types of people on this planet:  The ones who have their sins covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, and those who do not.  If you are one of the ones who have it covered, then Calvary’s cross shows you the astronomical price that was paid for that sin to be forgiven.  I look to that cross this morning and am so thankful . . . so appreciative.

If your sin is not covered by His blood, then you will pay for your sin.  The price is separation from God in hell.  You will not argue your way out and there are no technicalities.  Sin is a big deal and the world we live in does not treat it as one.  If you do not know Him, ask God today to show you what it is doing to you.

Lord, thank You for salvation!  Thank You for the simplicity of it all.  You paid the price so that all may come freely and have their sins washed away.  What a gift!  Help me to live in the light of that forgiveness.  Help me to live by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Use me this school year to be a light that so shines before men.  There is and never will be another like You, Lord.  I look so forward to the day when my faith becomes sight.  Help someone who reads this to draw a little bit closer to You.  Amen.