We’ve all done it – you know, ordered those items on line and then waited for the delivery source to bring them to your door. You know the waiting, you hear the truck arrive, the back door rolls up and here comes the delivery man up the front walk. They present you with the package and sometimes you even have to sign for it.
Is it everything you expected? It isn’t broken, is it? It’s what you paid for and it’s yours!
Now consider this. You are going about your own business, maybe doing the laundry, cleaning or working out in the yard. You hear the delivery truck stop in front of your house. The driver opens the back of the truck, brings out a package and starts up your walk. You don’t remember ordering anything, maybe your husband did. What could it be? On the side of the box you see the “gift” tag. Now you’re intrigued.
The driver tells you that this box has a signature required and you must sign before he can leave it. You don’t recognize the store or the return address. It’s addressed to you…but from whom. Now let’s see what you do next. Do you go inside, put the box on a chair or table and just stare at it or do you open it, excited to see what’s inside and hopefully find out who sent it?
You open it, right? It’s the most beautiful gift you’ve ever seen! How could they know that it’s exactly what you wanted. You’ve never had anyone give you such an expensive gift. Oh my goodness!! You’re overcome with emotion. Tears stream down your face, words can’t express the gratitude. You are overwhelmed and now you pick up the phone and call the giver of this precious gift and say, “I’m sorry I can’t receive this. I don’t deserve it and I’ll be sending it back.” Really? No, not at all. You call and express your gratitude and love, or at least that’s what I would do.
Do you know that this is exactly what has been done for us by God? Let me show you.
“But God had so much loving-kindness. He loved us with such a great love. 5 Even when we were dead because of our sins, He made us alive by what Christ did for us. You have been saved from the punishment of sin by His loving-favor. 6 God raised us up from death when He raised up Christ Jesus. He has given us a place with Christ in the heavens. 7 He did this to show us through all the time to come the great riches of His loving-favor. He has shown us His kindness through Christ Jesus.
8 For by His loving-favor you have been saved from the punishment of sin through faith. It is not by anything you have done. It is a gift of God. 9 It is not given to you because you worked for it. If you could work for it, you would be proud. 10 We are His work. He has made us to belong to Christ Jesus so we can work for Him. He planned that we should do this.” Ephesians 2:4-10
God’s great grace, loving-kindness, gave us something we didn’t deserve. Something we won’t ever earn, something we will never be able to pay for. It’s a gift! It’s a gift of love that comes straight from the Father’s heart. The gift is new life, a relationship with God the Father, saved from the punishment of sin. Jesus took the punishment for us! Why? To show us through all the time to come that He loves us.
The most amazing gift was given freely to us, but it cost Jesus his all! Our part in receiving this wonderful gift – just accept it.
“All have sinned and are not good enough to share God’s divine greatness. 24 They are made right with God by his grace. This is a free gift. They are made right with God by being made free from sin through Jesus Christ. 25-26 God gave Jesus as a way to forgive people’s sins through their faith in him. God can forgive them because the blood sacrifice of Jesus pays for their sins. God gave Jesus to show that he always does what is right and fair. He was right in the past when he was patient and did not punish people for their sins. And in our own time he still does what is right. God worked all this out in a way that allows him to judge people fairly and still make right any person who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:23-26 ERV
By this devotional I have delivered the gift. I can only hope that if this is the first time a delivery attempt has been made that you will take it. Say “thank you Father for this wonderful and precious gift. I receive it.”
Sign here!