You Can't Take It With You

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive me.

--Psalm 49:15  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 10, 2013 of Psalm 49:12-20; Acts 16:16-40; Numbers 7:30-89.

The sons of Korah speak at length in Psalm 49 as to the futility of accumulating earthly treasure and influence and their inability to provide salvation.  They remark that wise men and fools alike will die and rot and have to leave all their earthly wealth to others because they can't take it with them.  In this regard they are no different from any other animal that perishes.  But those who put their faith in God will find their treasures amassed in heaven, beginning with the salvation the Lord gives.  So the sons tell us not to worry when someone else strikes it rich or their name is glorified by man.  When they die, none of that will go with them.  But those rewards and riches stored up in heaven await the faithful and will never be taken away.

The fifteenth verse gives a very clear message Christian's should recognize.  God will redeem us, He will receive us.  God our Father sent His Son Jesus to earth to free mankind from the grip of sin, to save us from eternal damnation, to defeat even death and redeem our souls from the very power of the grave.  It is through Jesus that God redeems us, and only through Jesus does He receive us and accept us as His own.    Jesus tells us the only way to the Father is through the Son so the only way the Father can receive us is through His Son Jesus.  Jesus also assures us that God has adopted us as His very own and wants us to call Him Abba, Daddy, Father.  Because of the sacrifice Jesus made for us, because of the price He paid on our behalf, we don't have to worry about not taking anything with us.  It's already there waiting on us.  Thank You, Jesus!  Thank You, Father!  Amen.

God our Father and Jesus our Brother, we could never even begin to thank You for all the gifts and blessings you have poured over us, and especially for the greatest gift of redemption and salvation!  Thank You for showing us so many times in Your holy word how much You care for us and what is in store for us if we only believe.  In the dear name of Jesus we pray.   Amen.