Fringe Benefits - Martin Wiles

To open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me. Acts 26:18 NLT

For a middle-school-aged boy, it was the job of a lifetime—regardless of the pay.

My paternal grandfather was an ice cream delivery man. Not the kind who drove through neighborhoods and sold ice cream novelties to eager children, but the type who drove a large truck and delivered bulk items to restaurants and businesses. I’m not sure exactly when I began helping him during the summer, but by the time I was middle school age, I was spending the entire summer with my grandparents and working on the truck with him every day.

For a young boy, the benefits of working on an ice cream truck during the hot summer months were exciting. Each day, when we loaded the truck for the next day’s delivery, I pounced up in the refrigerated truck and stacked the ice cream my grandfather handed me. But the most tantalizing benefits were that my grandfather paid me $20 per week, told me I could eat as much ice cream as I wanted free of charge, and bought my lunch every day.

As the apostle Paul made his defense before King Agrippa, he recounted how God had given him a new mission in life. He was to take the gospel to the Gentiles, who, if they accepted it, would receive many fringe benefits.

As his child, God has opened my eyes to the light. Before accepting Christ as my Savior, the scales of spiritual darkness shaded them. Sin blinded me and held me securely in its chains. I could only do what my sinful nature dictated. I thought I was free, but I was actually a slave. Satan, the god of this world, blinded me. God, however, removed the blinders.

Forgiveness is another fringe benefit. Christ paid for all our sins on Calvary’s cross. No longer will God charge us with them. God placed them on Christ’s account.

Becoming a member of God’s family is a further fringe benefit. We’ve been sanctified—set apart. God has given us the righteousness of Christ. His family is large and eternal. We can enjoy their fellowship now and forever.

Think of the fringe benefits you experience as God’s child.

Father, thank you for the benefits that come with being your child. 

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Spiritual Benefits - Martin Wiles

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:5 NLT

I’ve worked in places where benefits were good, places where they were meager, and places where they were nonexistent.

While a good salary might attract us to a particular job, benefits enhance the chance we’ll actually apply for the position. If my salary is good, but I must pay an enormous monthly premium for insurance, my salary diminishes tremendously. Or if I choose not to get insurance, I must pay my total medical cost out of pocket. I remember one prospective employer saying as she offered me a position, “I can’t offer you a good salary, but I can give you wonderful benefits.” I took the job.

Employment benefits are excellent, but spiritual benefits outweigh them. I can be set in life and lose in eternity. I can meet all my medical needs through my insurance plan and still miss heaven. God chooses to adopt me into his family just as an employer offers me a job and then hires me. Unless God reaches out to me, I won’t reach out to him. But when I do, the benefits far surpass any I’ll find in an earthly job.

As God’s adopted children, we receive everything his Son does—and that’s everything. We’re in the already-not-yet stage. It’s ours; we just don’t own it outright now. But it’s in the works. We also receive complete and total forgiveness for all past, present, and future sins. None will ever be charged to our account again. Christ paid for them on the cross. God sends his Spirit to indwell us and indwells us continuously, giving us constant guidance and wisdom.

Along with the Spirit, come gifts. These we’re privileged to use in service to God and others. And best of all, we have the benefit of living with God in a new heaven and on a new earth. 

Choose to enjoy the benefits God offers by becoming his child.

Prayer: Father, thank You for all the benefits we have because we have the privilege of being called Your children. 

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Fringe Benefits - Martin Wiles

To open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me. Acts 26:18 NLT

For a middle school aged boy, it was the job of a lifetime—regardless of the pay. 

My paternal grandfather was an ice cream delivery man. Not the kind who drove through neighborhoods and sold ice cream novelties to eager children, but the type who drove a large truck and delivered bulk items to restaurants and businesses. Exactly when I began helping him during the summer, I’m not sure, but by the time I was of middle school age, I was spending the entire summer with my grandparents and working on the truck with him every day. 

For a young boy, the benefits of working on an ice cream truck during the hot summer months were exciting. Each day when we loaded the truck for the next day’s delivery, I got to get up in the refrigerated truck and stack the ice cream my grandfather handed me. But the most tantalizing benefits were that my grandfather paid me $20 per week, told me I could eat as much ice cream as I wanted free of charge, and bought my lunch every day. 

As the apostle Paul made his defense before King Agrippa, he recounted how God had given him a new mission in life. He was to take the gospel to the Gentiles, who, if they accepted it, would receive many fringe benefits. 

As God’s child, my eyes have been opened to the light. Prior to accepting Christ as my Savior, they were shaded by the scales of darkness. Sin blinded me and held me securely in its chains. I could only do what my sinful nature dictated. I thought I was free, but I was actually a slave. Satan, the god of this world, was my blinder. God, however, removed the blinders.

Forgiveness is another fringe benefit. Christ paid for all my sins on Calvary’s cross. No longer will God charge me with them. They were placed on His account. 

Becoming a member of God’s family is a further fringe benefit. I’ve been sanctified—set apart. The righteousness of Christ has been given to me and all members of God’s family. His family is large and eternal. I can enjoy their fellowship now and forever. 

Are you experiencing the fringe benefits of being God’s child? 

Prayer: Father, thank You for the benefits that come with being Your child. 

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