Gifts Of Grace

TITLE: Gifts of Grace
DATE: June 4, 2019
TEXT: Ephesians 2:8 – ESV -  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 

Robert F. Smith is a billionaire.

To the best of my knowledge none of the Daily Devotiouners are billionaires. I know I am not.
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Now partly because Robert F. Smith is a billionaire, and partly because he is wise and a very nice guy, and also partly because he has the ability to support Atlanta’s Morehouse College, Robert F. Smith was asked to speak to this year’s Spring graduating class.
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Well, everything went according to plan.

1. Robert F Smith’s company, Vista Equity Partners promised to give the school 1.5 million dollars.
2. The School bestowed an honorary doctorate on Robert F. Smith.
3. Robert F. Smith gave his speech. Now I have been a speaker for many such occasions and I have sat and listened to many such speakers. What the students at Morehouse College heard that day probably sounded something like….

My fellow students from the graduating class of 2019. Today you leave these hallowed halls and go into the world to accomplish blah, blah, blah.  You will find that the wise faculty have trained you for blah, blah, blah. But that does not mean your work is done. On the contrary. The world eagerly awaits you, and they expect you to blah, blah, blah. It is the hope of your parents, your family and friends that you will not blah, blah, blah. Instead we dream for you and imagine the day when you will blah, blah, blah. And as long as I’m standing here, I might as well tell you that I’m going to drop about 40-million and pay the entire college debt of the entire class.

Now that’s the point in the speech when everyone started listening again. Robert F. Smith had the undivided attention of every individual in the Class of 2019. He had the thankful, undivided attention of every student. All of them realized they had received an undeserved gift.

And they were grateful. As they should have been.

Now this is where I need to stop and say that although Mr. Smith has done a wonderful thing here, it was something he could afford  to do. In contrast, when Jesus gave forgiveness to all of humanity, it cost Him His life.

But there’s more. When Robert F. Smith gave his gift to the students, he was immediately praised by the students and by the media. In contrast, while Jesus hung on the cross offering His life for the world’s salvation the crowds that passed by made fun of Him and the thief who was dying with Him, made mockery of Him.

And one last thought. Mr. Robert F. Smith made his gift in hope that a grateful class would do some good with their lives.. On the other hand, the Savior knew that all who were brought to faith in His gift would not perish but be given eternal life
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THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, it is impossible for us to thoroughly thank you for the work of salvation Jesus has done for us. Even so, may every aspect of our lives reflect our gratitude for Your grace. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.


The devotion for today was inspired by various recent news articles. For further reading you may wish to go to this sitehttps://www.newser.com/story/275387/billionaire-promises-to-pay-off-loans-for-entire-graduating-class.html?

utm_source=share&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=def: and the article written by Rob Quinn

he music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html