2 Corinthians 9:14-15 “And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!”
Who doesn’t love a gift? There is a saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” but I will admit, receiving a gift definitely has merit. Truth be told, I love receiving gifts!
A gift says “You are special.” A gift says, “I appreciate you.” A gift says, “I remember you.” A gift speaks when words are difficult to utter. A gift requires effort and forethought on the part of the giver. A well-chosen gift requires an understanding of the recipient. And, besides, gifts come wrapped in beautiful packages. So, how could we not love a gift?
Unless…… we never unwrap the gift.
A number of years ago, our family hosted a foreign exchange student. He came home one night from an event with a beautifully wrapped gift. It had shiny paper and a big bow with lots of curly ribbon. He had never received a wrapped gift before and his excitement was evident even though he struggled to understand what he had done to deserve it. Assuming he would open it in his room, we forgot all about the gift until months later when we spied it still wrapped and sitting on his bookshelf. So, we inquired as to why he had not opened his gift. The puzzled expression on his face told us he did not understand. We explained to him that the gift was what was INSIDE the box. Since he had never received a wrapped gift before, he thought the gift WAS the beautifully wrapped box, unaware of the treasure inside. When he finally unwrapped his gift, it was something he needed and could have been using for months had he only unwrapped it. And once he truly discovered his gift, it became very important to him to thank the giver.
So it is with the gifts from our Heavenly Father. God gives us many beautiful gifts in spite of the fact there is nothing we have ever done to deserve them. One of these is the gift of His grace. Our sin can separate us from God and it is His grace that draws us back to Him. But like the gift that sat on the shelf, God’s gift of grace can remain undiscovered in our lives. If we will only open his gift, we will discover the essence of a God whose love defies comprehension.
God’s grace is a gift we cannot earn. God’s grace is a gift we can never deserve. It is His grace that saves us, frees us from our sinful state, and brings us back into His loving presence. And when we become fully aware of His grace, we cannot wait to thank Him by living a life honoring His incredible gift.
Father God, may we never place your gift of grace on the shelf. Thank you for covering us with your love and forgiveness and help us live our lives honoring your gifts.
Blessings,
Rita Cochrane