The Gift



To my friends, The Isaacs. For believing in me, investing in me, and sticking with me, thank you.


“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23


On a completely ordinary Tuesday, a friend dropped by my house and handed me a gift. Tearing back the wrapping paper revealed a crisp white box that held a very nice laptop. My friend explained that she and her husband had been wanting to buy me a laptop for a while, so I could finally retire the 10 year old one I'd been hanging onto. Though I didn’t think I could accept such a generous gift, I knew that this was just who they were; Generous.


While I was grateful, I was honestly a little overwhelmed by the magnitude of their gift. It was easy for my mind to list off all the reasons why I didn’t deserve something so wonderful for absolutely nothing. A day later I told my friend that I felt like I couldn’t even thank them adequately without repaying them in some way. So full of grace, her response was that the best appreciation would be for me to use the gift to communicate God’s word, and to do the things I have been wanting to do. 


Something shifted in me as I recognized the familiar ring of the Gospel. 


A great investment had been made on my behalf, and if I felt as if I had to earn it, the gift would distort into a burden. Instead, I was told that the gift was completely free of expectations, strings or stipulations. It was meant to be a blessing, should I choose to use it. So instead of working to try and earn the gift, I now want to use the gift to show my appreciation for what has been done for me. 


Just like me with the laptop, many christians try to make up for their unworthiness by trying to earn what has been freely given. God isn’t asking you to earn His affection, His blessings, or your salvation. The bible says He wants your love over your works. Once you find that freedom, it is full hearted gratitude that propels you to action. This is the posture we are meant to walk in as believers. 


In the bible, the book of John, chapter 3 verses 16-17 says “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” It is not after making all the perfect, right decisions, never messing up and having it all together that we earn salvation. It’s just after you believe that you have been handed an overwhelmingly good gift.


Father, I pray for the ones who have been hurt thinking they needed to do more, or could never do enough to please You. I ask that they would know freedom, and that You would reveal the truth of Your radical love for them. You are a good Father who delights in His children, and delights in giving good gifts.


Song: Good Good Father- Curt Vernon

Wish I Could- Curt Vernon


Comments

  1. TbishopSeptember 15, 2020 at 10:16 PM

    A gift unearned and undeserved changes us to the core. Our Cup runs over ❤️

    ReplyDelete

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