He Graciously Gives Us All Things

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8: 32

There are only 15 shopping days until Christmas and I’m starting to get a little anxious! There’s very little under our tree, and I seem to be having more trouble than ever finding just the right gifts!

Don’t we all spend so much time and thought on trying to choose the perfect one for those special people in our lives? We want to find the gifts they want, or need, – or what we really desire, is that we could give them something that would really make them happy and excited. And when they aren’t, sometimes we’re the ones who are the most disappointed.

But is there really a perfect gift for everyone? Probably not. We have to realize that in giving a gift to those we love and care about, we’re just offering a token of our love and appreciation, and if they don’t like it,then it’s ok if they take it back or store it away to re-gift! We gave of ourselves and now they can do with it what they choose. (Now I need to convince myself of this and go shopping!)

But there is one gift too important for any of us not to accept graciously! And hopefully we embrace it with much gratitude and praise.

When God gave us the most wonderful gift ever given, He was saying to us, “I not only give you my Son, but I give you the gift of life if you will only accept it.  And with that gift comes the opportunity for you to live a better, more peace-filled and joyful life than you could ever imagine.”   

How he must desire that we won’t reject Him, but will willingly receive Him with thanksgiving and acknowledgement of how much we need our Savior in our lives. But once given, God will stand back and wait to see how we will accept His gift. He does so because He won’t force Himself, His love, or His saving grace upon any of us. He gave us free will to choose Him or to reject Him. He waits to see what we will do with the gift of His Son, because the way we receive Jesus is the way we will receive Him.

So many fail to accept our Savior and they treat Him with indifference and total rejection. Others may acknowledge Him, but place Him aside until they truly need Him. But what benefits they miss out on by not lovingly accepting what He has to give. For when we do, we are graciously given all the goodness He has to give – His presence with us, His love, grace, comfort, peace, and His hope for all eternity.

It’s difficult to understand why God would want to give us such a miraculous gift until we understand the depth of His love for us. The world may not care about our pain and despair, but God always will. He made a covenant with us the day we committed to following Him and we know He keeps His promises. And one way He expresses His love for us is through His Son. Salvation is His ultimate gift to us and receiving it is the greatest gift we can give ourselves.  If He loves us enough to give His Son to die for us, will He not “graciously give us all things”?  How grateful we are for such a loving God.

 Prayer

Our Heavenly Father, what a loving and gracious gift you have given us through your Son, Jesus Christ. May we gratefully and lovingly accept His grace and let Him transform our hearts and our lives. May this Christmas season be filled with a renewed sense of love and praise for Him.  Amen