Topic: YOU CANNOT EARN GOD’S BLESSINGS – Bishop Mike Okonkwo Devotional 19 November 2020 [The Redeemed Evangelical Mission]
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YOU CANNOT EARN GOD’S BLESSINGS
“And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine” Luke 15:31 KJVA lot of Church folks are trying to earn the blessings of God. But the truth is that you cannot earn it; it is a free gift by grace. Paul says, I am what I am by the grace of God.You cannot earn God’s blessings. That is why Christ had to come and earn it for you so that you can receive what has been provided for you. Salvation is the greatest gift that God gave to us. It is not earned but received.Do you know the problem of the elder brother of the prodigal son? He felt he could earn the blessing of the father. The thing was there, but he said I can’t take it until I earn it. The blessing was in the house, but he disqualified himself.On the other hand, the prodigal son said my father is rich. He must have considered that he didn’t earn even the blessings his father gave him. So, if it was given to him freely before, the same way he will do it again. When he came to himself and went back home; guess what? The ring was available. The robe was available. And the shoes were still there. I thought that he took the shoes and the robe away? The truth is that God is always providing.As they began to celebrate the return of the prodigal son, his elder brother came back and on seeing what was going on, he became angry. He has been working all these years; wanting to earn the blessing. He said to the father, I have been labouring with you since my brother abandoned you and spat on your face. And the father said that is the issue. Your problem is that you have been trying to earn what I have already provided for you, instead of you to receive it. His father did not offend him. All the father had was his, but he refused to take it because he wanted to earn it. Beloved, learn to receive the blessings that God has already provided for you.Further Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10; Luke 15:25-32Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Ezekiel 8-10; Evening- Hebrews 13