God’s Gift, Inexpressible

Have you ever been at a loss for words due to experiencing some sort of event in your life? I know that I have and one of those captures my attention every day, the gift of grace from the LORD. I have been blessed to experience the grace of God on a regular basis and there is no real reason for it. I am not a captain of industry or an overtly recognizable public figure. I am a child of God struggling daily to get along in this world and yet, He gives me grace at every turn.

“¹⁵Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” — 2 Corinthians 9:15 (ESV)

If God’s grace is inexpressible, then how is it that I am to let others know of the grace that I am afforded by God. Well, that is in my actions of bringing glory to Him through generosity and love provided for others. I do not need to make it known to all through my words, I can and should rely on my actions to demonstrate the grace provided of God.

“¹⁰He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. ¹²For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.” — 2 Corinthians 9:10-12 (ESV)

My role in all is to provide for the needs of others. Whether that is monetarily or in actions. Just the other day, Lori and I were out to dinner and as we were headed to the car, we noticed an older couple struggling to get to the car. We had a choice, get our vehicle and head home or lend a hand and demonstrate the grace God provides for us. Of course, we assisted them in getting to the car and what a witness it was. We did not ask for anything in return, and yet we were blessed beyond belief in knowing that we enriched someone thanks to the grace of God and His gift to us.

“¹³By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, ¹⁴while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.” — 2 Corinthians 9:13-14 (ESV)

It is my role to contribute to others with a generous heart that is filled with the grace of God. He gives freely to me and I am tasked with doing the same with those around me. I don’t do it for the recognition and frankly, as Paul notes, the gift of God’s grace is “inexpressible”. Yet I can demonstrate His grace in my life by giving grace to others freely and generously.

What is your thought on the gift of grace from God? Are you working daily to find the way to express your receipt of that grace? What if you recognized that you are unable to sufficiently express that gift and instead, demonstrated the gift of God through your generous actions and giving to others?

Gift of Physical Relationship and/or None

Lori and I have been married for what will be 27 years in just a few weeks. We have enjoyed our time together as partners and are looking forward to the next 27 years. Where our time together has not been without its challenges, we are still in love with one another and continue to grow closer. And our closeness includes our physical relationship as well. We are certainly giving fully of one another to the other.

“³The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. ⁴For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.” — 1 Corinthians 7:3-4 (ESV)

I do not want to get too deep into the weeds here of our physical relationship other than to say that we are happy to be there for one another. Our physical relationship is a gift that we accept and are thankful for.

This is not to say that being celibate is not without its goodness either. Paul was celibate for the duration of his ministry and counted it a gift as well. Paul was fully devoted to the LORD and counted himself blessed to do so.

“⁶Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. ⁷I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. ⁸To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am.” — 1 Corinthians 7:6-8 (ESV)

Paul is content with the lack of human physical relationships as he is fully committed to the relationship with Christ. He makes it clear that where this is the life for him, he fully understands that the gift of celibacy for him may not be such a gift for others and where it is not, then the physical relationship should be sought, but only under the guise of marriage.

Both the physical relationship with a spouse, and/or celibacy are a gift to be celebrated. Whereas Lori and our marriage is a gift from God, our physical relationship is as well. Yet that is not to say that the celibate relationship with God is not a gift in and of itself. My mothers 45 year celibate relationship with God is just as beautiful as our 27 year marriage to one another.

Which gift are you enjoying today? Are you concerned that no physical relationship is somehow not as rewarding? What if you count your relationship as a gift, whether physical or not and embraced the love between you and God or you and your spouse as a gift from God?

Gift of Life as a Result of Being a Slave to Obedience

“¹⁶Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” — Romans 6:16 (ESV)

The word slave conjures up a lot of controversy in society today. I want to put it out there to ensure that I am clear in that I am not drawing ire as I do understand the controversy. Paul is speaking to how we live our lives and what it is that we allow to master our lives.

We have a choice as to which we allow to take the lead in our lives, sin or obedience. The choice is an easy one, yet the result is drastically different and will impact in profound ways. When we select to be a slave to sin, we are running toward lawlessness and think in selfish terms as we go through this world. When we select to be a slave to obedience, we are running toward the LORD and that which He has for us, righteousness.

“¹⁹I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.” — Romans 6:19 (ESV)

On the surface, sin may seem like a natural choice to fit in this world and be accepted by society as one of the group. The problem with it is that the group and society are lost in sin and are on their way to death and destruction as noted by Paul in verse 16 that I have quoted above. Society is ruled by the evil one and he is leading the way to destruction.

I chose to be a slave to obedience and therefore lead to eternal life with Christ. No, it is certainly not easy and I will stumble and fall, yet the end result is movement toward Christ and the glory of heaven is confirmed as my home.

“²²But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. ²³For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 6:22-23 (ESV)

Notice the shift in focus here from being a slave to obedience to being a slave of God. I know it may seem a bit strange to accept, and my first paragraph speaks to what we allow to master our lives as opposed to who masters. But look at my previous sentence and that paragraph and the use of the word “allow”. The key thing for me is that it is a choice as to being a slave in this instance. I choose to be a slave to obedience and subsequently a slave of God. I want it to be so and I embrace it as I know the end result is that of eternal life with Him in heaven.

What is it that you are a slave? Are you living your live to serve society and allowing sin to be your master? What if you accepted obedience and allowed yourself to be a slave to it and subsequently being led to righteousness and eternal life in heaven?

One Sin, Followed by Death, One Gift Accepted, Followed by Life

The title is correct and yet may be a bit confusing for some, and I have to say that it took me a minute to get through it so that I could share my thoughts.

Let me start with the first part of the title, “One Sin, Followed by Death”. You see, it was Adam and Eve who committed the first sin. They ate from the “Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil” and as such disobeyed the one thing that God had prohibited of them. They sinned one time and that sin lead to sin of all and lead to the death of all (here in this world). Had they not sinned then they would have been companions to one another and to God, likely for eternity in this world in the Garden of Eden. Yet, their one sin started the ball rolling for all of us to be sinners and subsequently dying in this world.

“¹²Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” – Romans 5:12 (ESV)

Then there is the gift of salvation from God to us, “One Gift Accepted, Followed by Life”. The sin committed by Adam and Eve led to the sin of all, the gift of salvation, where offered to all, is only for those who accept the gift. I know that is hard, yet as I think of my study of the word “gift”, I am reminded that everyone is given the opportunity to accept the gift and where all my receive it, all will not accept. For those who do accept, they are granted eternal life once again that eluded them thanks to the sin of Adam and Eve.

“¹⁵But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.” — Romans 5:15 (ESV)

Yes, both sin and the gift of salvation were the results of one man’s actions, Adam and Jesus, there are very different paths to the impacts of those. Sin is passive and all of us are sinners as a result of the actions of Adam. The gift of salvation is active and all who accept the gift are saved as a result of the action of acceptance of that gift provided by the actions of Jesus. I have to remember the active part of the equation and take that into my day to day to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to hear and accept and not just expect that everyone has or will at some point. I have to be the conduit by which everyone receives the gift and has the chance to accept and therefore lead to life eternal.

How did you come to be a sinner? Are you even aware that you are a sinner due to the actions of one, Adam? What if you accepted the gift of salvation, knowing that it is due to the actions of one, Jesus?

Gift for All Even as All are Sinners

“²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” — Romans 3:23 (ESV)

Here is the beginning of the “Roman Road to Salvation” as it is sometimes known. This is where it all starts in our movement to the gift of salvation from the LORD. What I see is that there is no discrimination as to who has sinned, it is identifying everyone. No matter who you are, where you come from, or what you have done, we are all sinners and fall short of a right relationship with God.

“²⁴and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” — Romans 3:24 (ESV)

And yet, we are ALL presented the gift of salvation. Not just those deemed “worthy” by the law or by others. ALL are presented the gift from God. Boy am I glad that I fall into the ALL.

I am part of the ALL as a sinner and a receiver of the gift of salvation. As noted in the title of this blog, ALL are sinners and ALL receive the gift. But, not all will accept. The gift was/is presented to everyone and everyone has the opportunity to accept, yet not all will.

I was presented the gift and accepted. And that is the key thing here for me to remember. I was presented the gift of salvation and in order to be saved, I had to accept. I could not just receive it and then throw it under the seat of the truck, I have to keep it in plain view and remember it was given and I actively received it. I announced that I had received through baptism and I have to continue to announce it daily as the reminder that I did accept and have a responsibility to Christ as a result.

The gift of salvation is one that is freely given to ALL and ALL have the chance to receive it as well as accept. This is not dependent on and status of actions completed or righteousness under the law or right living standards. We are ALL sinners, regardless of where or what we come from. We are not excluded from the opportunity. Salvation is the free gift and for ALL to accept.

What are your thoughts on your status as relates to the gift of salvation? Are you aware that you are a sinner and yet the gift is for you as well? What if you came to the LORD and held out your hands and accepted the free gift of salvation given to you knowing that it is for ALL and you fall into that ALL?

God’s Gift to Give, Not Mine

I am continuing my study of the word “gift” and this morning was again in the book of Acts where I was reminded that the gift of salvation is from God to those in need. The disciples were recruited by Jesus and were saved as a result of the gift He had for them. And God provides the same gift for others as well. The passage I read this morning is of Peter discussing his spending time with those deemed unclean. He explains that he was doing the will of God and was presenting the gift to them so that they would have the opportunity to accept it themselves.

“¹⁵As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. ¹⁶And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ ¹⁷If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” — Acts 11:15-17 (ESV)

The takeaway this morning is that I am to do the will of God in all that I do. I am to go where He wants me to go. I am to present His gift to all and those who accept will join Him in heaven and will also go and do all that He has asked. They to will present the gift to others as they are afforded the opportunity to accept and be saved.

I am but a conduit for the gift to be presented. It is not my gift to give, I am only the vessel from which the gift is presented. God’s gift of salvation is His and I as well as all that choose to accept, are the presenters of His gift to others in need.

What is your thought with regard to the gift of salvation? Are you of the impression that the gift is yours to give? What if you recognized that the gift is God’s and you are the one presenting that gift to those in need?

Receive and Accept the Gift

Receive: to come into possession of: acquire

Accept: to receive (something offered) willingly

— Merriam-Webster Online

I lead this morning with the two definitions above to give a little more understanding into the difference in Peter’s words and what we do.

“³⁸And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” — Acts 2:38 (ESV)

Peter is speaking to the group and explaining to them that they should repent of their sins and be baptized to receive the gift of salvation. Notice that he gives them an action to perform before receiving, which would indicate to them that they have to be willing to receive and therefore will be able to “accept” the gift, and not just receive. He was responding to their question of what to do to receive the gift.

“³⁷Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’” — Acts 2:37 (ESV)

I have to remember that receiving something is passive and really without meaning. All can receive something, whether on the street from someone, the words given in a gathering, ticket stubs at an event, or many other things. But accepting is active. I have to be willing to receive for there to be meaning. I have to want that which is given and even ask for it in certain circumstances; the ticket to the concert (and attend), Prayer, and Salvation. And now I have accepted the gift.

Christ has a gift for all, and it is freely given and everyone can receive that gift. Yet, there are those who will receive and tuck it away without thinking twice about it. For those, the gift was simply received and holds little to no value. Then there are those who actively and willingly receive or accept the gift Christ has given. For them, there is value beyond belief.

“⁴²And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³And awed came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.” — Acts 2:42-43 (ESV)

What have you received and yet not accepted? Have you missed out on something great as you have not willingly received? What if you asked for Salvation and accepted the gift freely given as opposed to simply receiving without action?

Reconcile Then Bring Your Gift to God

I have shifted from studying the word word “works” to the word “gift”. This morning I was taken to a passage that was a bit unexpected, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as He speaks about anger. Gifts and anger, what would God have for me this morning. Well here are the verses dealing with gifts.

“²³So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” — Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV)

Jesus reminds me here to be sure that I am fully reconciled before I bring my gift to Him. My heart must be clear of any of the distractions and aches that will cause me to remove my eyes from Him even for a moment. That requires that I have nothing hanging over me and that I am able to engage with Him and Him alone.

I am especially fond of the first part of verse 24, “leave your gift there…and go”. I know that I have this innate drive to finish one thing before moving on to the other and just leaving something to go to something else seems a bit counter productive. The thing is, I have left the issue with another undone and moved on to bringing a gift to God. I have proceeded contrary to my own innate drive.

I must get back to the place where I am not leaving anything undone before moving to the next. I have to remember to reconcile and then move to the next. I have to get my heart right before coming to the Lord with my gift. I have to remember that by getting right with others, I am taking the self out of the equation. I am not doing it for me, although I benefit from a right heart, I am doing it for the other to show my repentance and demonstrating the example of Christ.

Jesus reconciled with the people before He was put to death and became the gift of sacrifice. There was nothing left undone that was not to be left undone. He completed His work to that point and moved on to the next which was dying on the cross for each of us, the ultimate gift of selflessness.

I am bound to God through the gift of salvation and I am due to gift back to Him. I have to remember to leave nothing undone and no reconciliation incomplete. I have to get right before I gift to the LORD.

How are you coming to the alter? Are you coming with things left undone? What if you completed all thing and was fully reconciled so that you come to the LORD with a clear heart and a beautiful gift?

Good Works are Coming, Be Ready

I never know when I am going to have the opportunity to witness to and influence someone. I may not even know in the moment or unless they indicate that to me later. Recently someone reached out to me, out of the blue, asking for my thoughts on a particular subject, I provided my thoughts and then she told me she appreciated the learning I had provided her. I asked what it was and she proceeded to tell me. Now it is something that I indicate all the time and have not been told of the impact it has on others until this time. I was taken aback in the moment as I was finally recognized for the impact even as I did not even know of the impact.

All of the above is to again say that we really do not know when we are going to have the opportunity to impact another, and sometimes the work we do that seems to go unnoticed actually has a profound impact. I have to be ready for those moments and stay with the works for Christ, round the clock.

“¹Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,” — Titus 3:1 (ESV)

Paul, speaking to Titus, indicates that we are to be at the ready at all times. The good works that are presented to us may come on quickly and if we are not ready, we may miss that which God has planned for us to complete. I have accepted Christ and been justified, now is the time for me to do the work and that will require for me to be seeking it out and ready for when it is presented.

I have to prepare. I know, if I don’t know what the work is, how can I prepare? I have to stick to the basics and that is to be aware and be the example of Christ at every turn. I have to live out the fruit of the Spirit in all that I do and that is where my preparation lies.

“²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” — Galatians 5:22-26 (ESV)

Paul again indicates to be ready with the fruit of the Spirit. In doing so, we are able to “keep in step with the Spirit” and align ourselves with the work that God has for us. We will be ready to take on that which is presented and do so more as Christ would and be the example for others to see.

What is your approach to what is to come? Are you just working from moment to moment and waiting for the next thing to drop? What if you were to prepare, knowing the next work will be coming soon and when it does, you are ready to do the work of/for Christ?

Be the Example

Ever notice that in society, the prevailing theme is to be seen. And think about that which is thought to be of importance: silly dances, hacks to life, sensationalism, and the like. What has the world come to that all of that is what is important in the lives of people.

“⁷Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, ⁸and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” — Titus 2:7-8 (ESV)

Now that is what I am talking about. Paul points out to Titus that is “good works” and “integrity, dignity, and sound speech” we should be concerning ourselves with. And, it is not “to be seen”, but rather to be the example of what right is. It is this example that sets us apart from the world and not the ability to be seen as the silly dancer or hack or somehow more sensational. I have to remember that the LORD has tasked me with bringing the gospel to the world and doing so as His example.

“¹¹For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹²training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ¹³waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” — Titus 2:11-14 (ESV)

God has prepared me to complete the tasks He has for me, and it is my duty to follow through with that duty and do so as His example. He has provided for me the framework and the direction and the skills, and has instructed me to just do the work. I am to follow His lead and be an example to others, through my actions and not through the attention grabbing antics of the world. I am to be “zealous for good works”, not seeking for the world to know me, but they will know of my works and of God.

What are you seeking in this world? Are you looking to be seen as the silly dancer, life hacker, or sensationalist? What if you focused on being a zealot for good works as an example of Christ and simply spread the gospel as God has instructed and allowed the glory to be received by Him?