February 7, 2025

Romans 6:20-23  (HCSB)
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from allegiance to righteousness. 21 So what fruit was produced then from the things you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now, since you have been liberated from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the end is eternal life! 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sarah Ricciardi
I went to Asbury University for a few years. I had this great French professor, Dr. Begley. She made cheesecakes in all flavors from scratch. After finals, she would have us all over to her house to indulge in multiple different flavors—white chocolate raspberry, chocolate chip, chocolate chocolate, and more. Romans 6:23 is the one verse I semi-remember how to recite in French. The wage of me eating her cheesecake was a buddy called “Freshmen 15”. I often forget the wages of my actions, or inactions. Do you? The wages of my sin, Paul reminds, is death. Death is hard. I have several contacts still saved in my phone—people I love who are now dancing with Jesus. I cannot bring myself to delete their information. (If anyone ever gets their old number and texts me...well, I am not sure if I would cry or laugh.) But death doesn’t get the final word. Eternal life in Christ Jesus does! We miss those who are gone and that’s not something to be ashamed of, Friend. Let us remember that this state of gone is like the middle of a movie—it’s not the final act. Grieve, cry, yell if you need to, yet don’t stop there—cry out in worship. Raise a hallelujah or a hundred, allowing your head to tell your heart that “the fruit we get” from living in Christ is ultimately “sanctification and its end, eternal life. "Maybe I will leave my friends in my phone and if I ever get a call it just might be the perfect time to preach.