The saleslady in the small grocery store near our ministry center seemed glad to finally get a few things straight.  She leaned across the counter and narrowed her eyes.  

  “So, I’ve heard about you being a missionary and fixing up that building for your work, but tell me, really,” she paused, “what are you getting out of it?”  

  I smiled and told her about our desire to share the love and message of Jesus Christ with people.  But I didn’t get far before she interrupted me.  

  “Yes, yes, but what do you get out of it?  How much are you going to charge people for these English lessons, Sunday school, Bible studies, and all that?”  

  I assured her that we had no desire to charge people anything.  It would be free.

  “I don’t believe it,” she declared.  “Nothing is free.”  She leaned back and eyed me warily.  “What’s the catch?  There’s got to be more to it...”

  Finally, I nodded and smiled.  “Ok, we do get something out of it.”  

  She grinned triumphantly, and I noticed another lady in the store moving over toward us to hear the scoop.  

  “The reality is, we get the joy and reward of knowing that people are going to hear the Word of God and find out that their lives don’t have to be empty and meaningless.  We get the wonderful payment of telling people about salvation from sin and death that is found in Christ.  And we get the blessing of knowing that we are serving God and doing His will with this life He has given us.”

  She stared at me incredulously.  

  Finally, she mustered up a solemn threat.  “All right.  Here’s what I’m going to do.  When you open this fall, I’m going to come and listen to your talks.  And if you try to get money from people, I’m going to tell everyone I know (I know a lot of people) that you’re a liar!”

  “You’ve got a deal!”  I answered with a laugh.    

  I hope she comes.  And when she does, she’ll have to wrestle with a new thought.  “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  That, too, is a gift, and it’s one that we cannot afford to reject.  

  And what did God get out of it?  God receives the only thing that He ever claimed for Himself - the glory.  And when we look at the way the Holy Lamb of God selflessly emptied Himself and laid down His life for sinners who rejected Him, it truly should cause us to give  our Lord glory and praise for His amazing love and infinite grace!