By Popular Request: I'll be repeating a week's worth of holiday "gift" messages.
I really enjoy giving gifts, don't you? I love to see the sparkle in my children's eyes when they are opening up a present that I've given to them. It warms my heart.
God loves to give good gifts too! Sometimes we don't give Him the credit that he is due for all of the wonderful gifts to us. Since the holiday season is upon us ( and many people are thinking about gift-giving), I'm going to concentrate on some of the amazing gifts that God freely gives. Each day, I will concentrate on just one of those gifts, and I hope that it will
bless you and draw you closer to your Heavenly Father.
Day #1 - The gift of salvation
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" Ephesians 2:8
A number of years ago, we did a community religious survey in a New York State town to see what people knew about spirituality and the Bible. We asked for opinions from house occupants to a select number of questions, and the answers that were given were at times surprising.
One of the
questions that was asked was the following: "In your opinion, how does one receive eternal life?" We were shocked by the answer that more than 85% of the people gave when they were asked this very simple question. Here is the answer that most people responded with:
"By being a good person."
How many times have you heard someone say, "Well, if anyone is going to heaven, it will be _______________. They're such a good person."
Please don't misunderstand me; having good people around you is a wonderful thing. In fact, when it comes to my choice
of people to hang out with, I'd rather hang out with "good people" than with "scoundrels." Wouldn't you?
But here is where many people become misguided when it comes to eternal life. Eternal life is not exclusively for "good people." In fact, the scriptures are very clear that we are saved by grace, and not
by works.
Grace is a gift.
- We can't earn it.
- We don't deserve it.
- Nothing we do causes us to be worthy of it.
It's a gift.
Some people don't seem to enjoy gifts. I've actually known some people that don't know how to accept a gift when it is given to them. It almost seems like they have a running "score-card" in their minds, and when they receive a present, they have to give something in return so that they don't feel weak in the "gift-giving" department. Have you ever received a
Christmas card, and then wrote one back simply because you didn't want the sender to think negatively about you?
God's system of giving is not "quid pro quo."
He doesn't offer His gift of grace so that we'll feel guilty and want to do good things in
return. He doesn't freely shower us with this, all the while looking for something in return from us. God gives grace because He loves us and wants to save us. He is love, and love always gives without expecting something in return.
If we had to give something in return, it wouldn't be a gift...it would be a transaction.
How is with you? Are you one of those people that has a tough time receiving a free gift? Honestly, I struggle with it. Not because I don't enjoy gifts, but because I often feel so undeserving of them. My human nature prefers the "transaction" model, because there's something in there that I can DO to help it along.
I may not be very good at it, but I can still accept the gift that God offers to me.
Have you accepted God's amazing gift of grace? If you have, you know the pure joy of receiving it. If you haven't, please accept it today.
Have a great day and God bless!
