Many of God’s people have had the experience of finding a new job: perhaps to better keep God’s Sabbath or Holy Days, or simply for a career change. One of the things that may weigh heavily in the choice of a new job, or new position, is the benefits package the employer offers. For some it may be better to take a position with a smaller salary if the benefits package is really exceptional. For God’s people today these are important decisions we must make if we are to provide for our families as God has instructed us to do. However, we know that God has also called us for a much more important job that we must be training for and that we must never lose sight of in this stressful world — becoming teachers of God’s way in His kingdom. This important job comes with an exceptional benefits package that’s second to none. It’s important from time to time to review our benefits package, make sure we are making full use of those God has given us now and reexamine the ones we can look forward to in the future.
Forgiveness of Sins
God reminds us in Psalms 103:2 not to forget all His benefits. One of the blessings He provides to us is that He forgives all our iniquities (v. 3). What an awesome gift! He tells us in verse 12 of the same chapter that “as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Satan wants us to lose sight of this because it slows down our progress if we get bogged down with guilt from our sins. Notice what Paul tell us in Phillipians 3:13: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead….” God has forgiven and forgotten those sins we have repented of, and expects us to move forward, grow and show by our actions that we want to live according to His ways. This is a benefit that we don‘t ever want to forget, and hopefully spent some extra time meditating on during the recent Passover season.
Healing
Another benefit that God offers is to heal all our diseases (Psa. 103:3). Jesus asked a very important question for our day and time: when Christ returns, “will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). Healing requires faith. Today there is a colorful pill for every ailment that comes along. Most do not even consider the side effects that are sometimes worse than what is being treated, nor question the human that prescribes it. It may seem strange to many that the first line of defense against illness is God, but that's one of the benefits He offers.
In Exodus 15:26 God promises, "If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight , give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you." Remember, God is always our Healer.
Redemption
Another benefit mentioned is that God “redeems your life from destruction” ( Psa. 103:4). Unless God has called an individual and opened his mind, this redemption will go completely unnoticed because society doesn't realize they are striving against God. The Apostle Paul explains in Romans 8:7: “…the carnal mind is enmity (RSV reads hostile) against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” Until God opens a person’s mind, he is on a collision course with destruction. But when the mind is opened by God, what an incredible blessing that is! We are able to see life in a whole new perspective: new goals, new focus — a new life with challenges that now lead to eternal life rather than destruction!
According to American Heritage Dictionary redeem means to recover ownership by paying a specific price; to set free; to rescue, or ransom (Defs. 1, 6. 4th ed. 2000). Carefully consider I Corinthians 6:20: “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” Our lives now belong to God, and we should be mindful of the price that was paid by Jesus’ sacrifice in order that we might be redeemed. We have also been set free from enslavement of this Satanic world. We benefit from God’s incredible rescue mission each day.
Kindness and mercies
The Lord is merciful, gracious, and slow to anger (Psa. 103:8). Thankfully, when we come before God’s throne, we have this benefit available to us. God wants to see growth in our lives and He gives us ample time to overcome, but we can't make it through the day without falling short or stumbling. He helps us overcome our shortcomings in loving kindness and mercy. We are told in Hebrews 4:15: “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus is our great and merciful High Priest, and God is our great and merciful Father. When we become kings and priests, we will rule and teach with the same mercy and kindness that they rule with. This is an awesome benefit of being a firstfruit that we can recall as we look forward to the Feast of Pentecost.
Discernment of clean and unclean
There is an incredible benefit to understanding God’s dietary laws, as found in Leviticus 11. Why would God create some creatures clean and some unclean? God could have easily made all animals clean to eat. These physical laws were given so that Israel would have to distinguish between the clean and the unclean in order to maintain their physical health (Lev. 11:47). We with God’s spirit must also distinguish between the clean and the unclean, as well as the holy and the unholy, in order to maintain our spiritual health. Correctly choosing clean spiritual food and dismissing unclean spiritual food is necessary in a time when there is a lot of biblical and spiritual confusion. When we choose the clean over the unclean, a transformation will take place so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Psa. 103:5). Being renewed back to our spiritual youth, back to that first love when God began to fill us with His truth, helps us further distinguish between the clean and the unclean.
God is giving an incredible job opportunity to those whom He has called and whose eyes he has opened to see. Along with that job, God has included a benefits package that exceeds all standards. God wants us to make full use of the benefits He has given us now, as we look forward to the ultimate benefit of everlasting life in His family and Kingdom.