“Freely”? For no payment... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

Let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Revelation 22:17.

"Freely"? For no payment whatever? For nothing in return?

The young woman who brought me my meal in the hospital room was very surprised. She came from Sri Lanka and was a Hindu. She had come to our country as a child and spoke our language very well.

This friendly woman even owned a Bible, but had never read in it. So she did not know that God offers eternal salvation free of charge without our having to do anything for it.

In the course of our conversation I explained that God does not expect us to fulfil hard religious rites. He expects no action on our side. We must simply acknowledge our sins and confess them frankly to Him, believing in Jesus Christ. Then God forgives our guilt, and we receive eternal salvation. Only then does God expect good works from us, not to be saved, but because we have been saved.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

"By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8.9).

The young woman went on to speak about her children. I could sense how she loved them. Children are a precious gift of God. It is important to show them the way to heaven: I therefore encouraged the young woman to read the Bible regularly.

Today's reading: Joshua 18:1-28 · 1 Corinthians 14:13-25