BIBLE PASSAGE:
For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith – and this not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God…
(Ephesians 2:8)
MEDITATION:
We all enjoy receiving gifts, right?
However, when we are given gifts, we have to
make a decision of how we will respond to the gift.
If we didn’t like the gift,
then we have to figure out a way to hide our disappointment.
On the other hand, if we did like the gift,
then we want to make sure we communicate our delight.
We are pleased to receive a gift, but we may not enjoy
the challenge of responding in the right manner.
Giving a gift however can be more enjoyable, because
the recipient has the challenge of hiding their disappointment,
or adequately expressing their appreciation.
God gave us an incredible gift, and it is our responsibility
to choose how we will respond to His amazing generosity.
He gave it to us out of His grace.
According to the dictionary,
‘grace’ means ‘unmerited favor of God toward mankind’.
We did nothing to earn this free gift from God;
grace is not something to be bought;
it is a free gift from God to mankind.
It is hard for us to understand this kind of grace.
Why? Because it is a natural tendency in most people to
feel that there should be an equal return for any favors received.
In other words, we either want to feel that we earned His gift,
or we need to give Him something of equal value in return.
We have to get outside the boundaries of human reasoning
in order to comprehend and appreciate the magnitude of God’s grace.
God said,
“For I am God, and not a man—the Holy One among you.”
(Hosea 11:9)
It is difficult for us to understand how Almighty God
could love us so much that He would choose to give
us something that we failed to earn.
God knows that, and He tells us that
we should not rely on our own understanding.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5)
So the question is,
“How do we express our gratitude to God
for the exceptional gift He gave us?”
First of all, we accept (receive) His gift.
If we don’t receive His gift,
then we have no reason to show our appreciation.
Secondly – love Him back!
We cannot match His gift to us, but we know He gave
it to us out of love, and we all have the capacity to love.
Love is something that we can (and should) give back to Him.
Thirdly – express our faith.
Our faith that He is God (the only God), that His word is true,
that His love was shown through the crucifixion of Jesus
for what we deserved, that Jesus was resurrected on the third
day, that His death covered our sins which makes us appear
righteous in the sight of God, and that when we receive His
gift, we will ultimately spend eternity with Him in heaven.
True faith means trusting Him.
“Maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.”
(Hosea 12:6)
We are not told to be idle, but we are told
to wait (expectantly) – that is trust (faith expressed)!
Do you know about the gracious gift God has offered to mankind?
Have you received His gift of grace?
Have you thanked Him for His gift?
Do you thank Him often?
I know there are times when I have prayed,
“God, I wish that there was a different plan
where Jesus didn’t have to be crucified.
However, that was your plan and I accept it and I
thank You Jesus for making the ultimate sacrifice
for my sins, so that one day I can be with You in paradise”.
Do you feel the same way?
Do you wish that we could be saved
without the requirement of Jesus’ death?
Can you imagine the thoughts Jesus must have
had the night before He was to be crucified?
However, He said, “Not as I will, but as You will”.
Jesus was obedient to the will of His (and our) Father.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(Romans 5:8)
What is the most awesome thing
someone else has done for you this year?
What about during the last ten years?
What about your entire life?
Did someone call you,
or send a card or text at just the right moment?
Did someone lift your spirits when you really needed a friend?
Did someone encourage you when you were feeling inadequate?
Did you show your appreciation for
the kind and caring gestures from someone else?
Did you thank them and tell them how they
provided just what you needed, at just the right time?
Chances are you thanked them, and maybe more than once.
If you didn’t, then maybe you should?
Showing gratitude to others is not an expected response
from those who care, but it is certainly appropriate, isn’t it?
Has anyone ever taken the punishment that you deserved?
Has anyone ever died for you?
The answer to both questions is a resounding “Yes!”.
Jesus Christ took the punishment
that you deserved – He died for you!
Why would He do that?
Because it was a demonstration of God’s love for you!
Have you done something for someone else
that they would consider awesome?
Have you been an encourager to someone who is down?
Have you called, or sent a card or text to someone
you knew was hurting, or someone who just
came to mind for no particular reason?
God demonstrated His love for us as an example
so that we would know to show love toward others.
Have you thanked the Lord
for taking your punishment and dying for you?
How often do you thank Him?
Take some time and thank Him not only for that blessing,
but for every blessing He has provided.
He blesses us with much more
than our needs (food, clothing, shelter).
Look around your house
and thank Him for all He has given you.
Thank Him for the abilities and talents He has given you.
Thank Him for answered prayers.
When we consider the many ways He has blessed us,
we should have a burning desire to thank Him often.
God loves us all, and His desire is for us to love Him too.
Jesus “will” return to take those who love Him,
the Father, and the Holy Spirit, to their heavenly home!
Will you be going with Him?
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your gift of grace to
mankind. I ask You to help me develop a more full and
abundant awareness of Your bountiful grace. I could
never give You an equal gift in return, but I can love You,
and I do. Although I cannot earn Your gift, I can prove
my gratefulness by serving you in whatever capacity You
want me to serve. You have given me spiritual gifts; help
me to use them to point others to You, Your Son, and the
Holy Spirit!”
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