Inflation

by Bob Gaudi

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –Romans 6:23

We have been hearing a lot about inflation for the past four years or more. Inflation is always present. It bounces madly around, up and down, as caused by a host of different economic drivers from supply and demand to fiscal and monetary policy, among other things.

Inflation in turn drives our spending behavior so the more things cost, the more pain we feel. This is especially true if wage increases don’t match the rate of inflation. How do you feel about paying $9.00 dollars or more for a dozen eggs? Then there is the cost of automobile insurance, home insurance (if you can get it in SoCal), gas, housing, automobiles, food, and just about anything else you can think of.

The price of most everything follows an inexorably upward path over time. As we all know, very few things get cheaper. However, one price that is not subject to inflation and has not gone up is the price of our sins. As the first part of the verse above from Romans states: “For the wages of sin is death…” But what is the price of our sin? The price of sin of course is the second part of that verse: “…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus Christ was the price and cost of human sin. God the Father gave His Son as payment for our transgressions. Jesus was the currency as well as the cost. God gave His Son. Jesus gave His life.

One thing we can be sure of: the price of sin has not and will never change, but the cost to us is free. All we have to do is have faith in Jesus, believe in His redeeming act of love, and His resurrection. That requires us to love God and others and to act out that love daily. True faith is demonstrated by acts of love. James addresses this in some detail in chapter 2 of his epistle. In 2:18b he says “…I will show you my faith by what I do.” True faith results in and is demonstrated by love and obedience, and by acting out our love for God and others.

As Pastor Sean has spoken about in 1 Peter over the past few weeks, we are set apart and must be holy. God says “Be holy, because I am holy” (Lev. 11:44 & 45; 19:2; 20:7, and 1 Peter 1:16). How do we do that? Love the Lord and others as yourself (Mt. 12:30-31) and as Pastor Sean pointed out most recently—be holy, be set apart, and live your life in reverent fear of the Lord. Jesus is real, Jesus lives, and He died for us. Believe it! Love God, love your neighbor, and show that love by what you do on a daily basis. Demonstrate to the world just how you are set apart. In four words: Act out your love!

Heavenly Father, fill us with Your Spirit and give us the strength, power, and never-ending desire to follow and reflect Jesus and to live our lives for You. Bless our efforts to serve You and others and to live a life truly worthy of You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.