Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Tag: Romans 3:23

the Magi Postal Service — June 3, 2026

the Magi Postal Service

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Evidently, we are all very deserving.  The lawyer on the TV promises to get us the settlement we deserve.  Football great Joe Namath told us to get the healthcare benefits we deserve.  McDonalds once told us that we deserve a break today.  

The dentist tells us we merit a better smile.  We are even told that we are worthy of premium toilet paper.  

But, honestly, there are times that I don’t want what I deserve.  

The budget for the youth ministry at our church was 50% of nothing.  So, I came up with a fun fundraiser. 

I asked our church to forgo mailing their Christmas cards to each other.  Donate the postage to the youth ministry instead and let us deliver the cards.

So, the congregation brought their cards to us.  We marked them with our official Magi Postal Service stamp and then delivered them on a Saturday morning. 

But that same afternoon, I received a threatening letter from the U.S Post Office informing me that only authorized postal service employees can place mail in a mailbox.  

I was told that I had committed a federal offense and the fine was $5,000 per piece of mail and 3 years in jail.  Oh my!  We delivered over 200 cards.  I literally owed the government a million bucks and I was soon to transition from youth pastor to prison inmate.

I most definitely did not want to receive what I apparently deserved. 

This is also true with sin.  Like the postal service, God has issued a warning.  Paul wrote in Romans 3:23, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

God said, “Do not bear false witness” but we have told little white lies.  He said, “Do not steal” but we have stolen time from our employer.  God told us to love our neighbor as ourselves.  Well, that has rarely happened!   

If there is a shred of honesty in us, we would have to agree that we have sinned and have fallen short of God’s expectations for us. 

Unfortunately, there are cosmic consequences.  Paul wrote, “the wages of sin is death” – Romans 6:23.  He spoke of an eternal state of separation from God – a perpetual process of dying.   Jesus Himself referred to this hell as a place where, “the fire is not quenched” – Mark 9:48

I am thinking that a fine of 1 million bucks would be nothing compared to the terrors of hell.

Fortunately, God sent someone to pay that penalty for us.  Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”   

If my wife were dying of cancer, I would, if I could take that cancer from her and bear it myself so that she might live.  That’s essentially what Jesus did for us. 

Because He was a man, He was able to die, and because He was also God, His death has a divinely powerful impact.  He suffered the consequences that we earned and deserved.

But each one must decide whether to do business with God or not.  John 1:12 says, “…to all who received Him (Jesus) to those who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God.”  

It is the free gift of God (Romans 6:23) but it must be received.  Suppose that a postal employee showed up at your door with a package instead of a threat.

He wants you to sign for it. So, you take out your wallet, but he says, “Oh no, someone else has paid for it, you just need to sign and receive it.”  That’s how God has taken care of our sin.  We need to believe in the giver and humbly receive what He gives.

He withholds what we justly deserve, when believe in Him and receive His gift.

Why don’t you take a moment now and ask Him for that gift?

A PRAYER: Oh God, thank you for withholding what we truly deserve. 

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture passages are taken from the NIV

an offensive gift — April 17, 2024

an offensive gift

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I have a sweet friend who happily teaches at an elementary school.  Ladonna posted a note, not long ago on Facebook.  She said, “Throughout my years of teaching, my students have brought me little gifts from time to time. It may be a rock, a picture they’ve drawn, or a bracelet made from a pipe cleaner.”

“Today I received another sweet gift.”  She included a picture of this gift.  It was a container of Secret deodorant!  She concluded by asking, “Do you think this student is trying to tell me something?” 

I bet you a hundred bucks she smelled her pits that day just to be sure. 

I’m sure he meant well, but regardless it was kind of a goofy, maybe even an offensive gift.

Ironically, Jesus also lacks tact when He gives His gift. 

He offers us the gift of salvation, but He first must make us aware at how desperately we need it.  He lets us know that…

– Without Him we are incapable of doing what He considers to be good. 

He said, “Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.” – John 15:4. 

– Without Him we don’t even have a desire to be good.

Again, He said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” – John 6:44

– and without Him we don’t even understand what that good is.

Jesus said, “Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear, nor do they understand.” – Matthew 13:13

We have proven Him correct by the many and varied ways we have chosen to sin.  It’s as Paul said, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23.   

We treasure the idea that Jesus loves us.  But this same Jesus regards people as being totally corrupt and possessing nothing that makes us attractive or acceptable to God.  Basically, He says, “We stink!”

We mock the preacher in dowdy dress, who stands on the corner with a sign that says “repent.”  And yet Jesus freely used the word as well.

– He said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” –   Luke 5:32

– He held people responsible for failing to repent.  “Then Jesus began to criticize openly the cities in which he had done many of his miracles because they did not repent.”  – Matthew 11:20

– He predicted a terrible outcome for those who did not repent. He said, “Unless you repent, you will all perish….!  – Luke 13:3

OK Jesus we get the message: we stink. Though we don’t usually think of ourselves as being sinners – You do.  And in the end its your judgment that matters. 

So, what do we do?  I was a lazy teenager, I didn’t shower as often as I should have, but I frequently slathered on deodorant.  Is that TMI?

We need more than that.  Paul said, “You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God.”  – 1 Corinthians 6:11.

That will take away the stink – a good washing.  Jesus provides it for those who go to Him.  Our sinful past is washed away by the flow of His blood shed at Calvary.

He then gives us His Spirit – His version of Ice Blue Secret.  The Spirit helps to keep the stink from returning. 

Are you aware at how desperately you need Jesus’ gift?  Have you noticed the odor yet?   Jesus has, and He offers you the help you need.

It’s not too late to acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of a Savior.  Whisper that to Him in a prayer.  He will hear and He will save.

A Prayer: Save me Lord – from my sins and myself.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture passages are from the NETBible ®