Every gift is a nice gift.
I had been watching someone open his birthday gifts at a party, and was impressed by a particularly extravagant one. With more exuberance than tact, I leaned over to him and softly said, “Wow, THAT’S a nice gift.” He glanced up, looking me directly in the eye and said, “EVERY gift is a nice gift.”
It’s true, of course. Each gift one receives is an expression of love and generosity. Each represents some level of sacrifice. All of them are a function of a shared relationship – either one that exists or one that is desired; and sometimes both.
When a young man has found the love of his life, the woman he is convinced he wants to spend the rest of his life learning to love one another better and better each day, he’ll often purchase a special gift to announce his intentions. In my culture, as in many others, this gift is typically a ring. At a specially chosen time and place he’ll present his request and his gift, offering her the rest of his life and inviting her to join him in it. He’ll often get down on one knee, take her hand and ask the question everyone only wants to ask once in their lives — WILL YOU MARRY ME ?
Here’s our verse for today:
FOR IT IS BY GRACE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED, THROUGH FAITH —
AND THIS IS NOT FROM YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD
What does a verse on salvation by grace have to do with marriage proposals? Quite a bit, as it turns out. Because among the various titles accorded to the Church in the scriptures is one that displays incredible love and intimacy. Paul the Apostle refers to it when he tells the followers of Jesus in Corinth that the Church has been betrothed to Christ! The Church – those of us saved by grace through faith – we are the bride of Christ!
When Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement, there was quite a bit more involved than just transitioning from being a “Miss” to becoming a “Mrs.” When the one who proposes marriage is royal, your new role comes with a title, too. Several, in fact. Along with the expectation of certain responsibilities and behavior. (For example, the decision of Harry and Meghan to abandon royal titles and duties led to a firestorm of news stories, highlighting their abandonment of both standards.)
Christ’s offer to us is very much like Prince William’s offer in many ways, though no world example can possibly do it justice. Jesus Christ presents us with an incredibly valuable gift; one that, if we accept it, will utterly change our life. Contained within it are offers, gifts and privileges that boggle the mind. First, complete and total forgiveness of every sin that has ever or will ever stain your life. Purchased at the cost of His own blood, Christ offers to exchange our filthy and sin-soaked rags of the royal robe of His righteousness. As we become His bride, we become royal. He has not only redeemed us to God by His blood, He made us kings and priests. We are His chosen, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people.
FOR IT IS BY GRACE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED, THROUGH FAITH —
AND THIS IS NOT FROM YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD
The gift of God is MORE than total pardon, absolute purity, intimacy, royal identity and priestly service. He continues to lavish more and more of His gifts upon us as He prepares us to live the life He has called us to. As His grace is poured out upon us like the oil used at a coronation, He also pours out love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These elements of who He is are formed in us as we learn more and more what it means to be royalty, children of the King and the bride of the Anointed One.
And it doesn’t stop there!!! The bible teaches us that there are a variety of gifts, though they are given by the same Spirit; and that these gifts are expressed in a variety of activities, but God is the one who empowers them all as we walk them out. These might include gifts of faith, gifts of healing, gifts of prophetic words or gifts of mercy and wisdom. Time and space do not allow me to continue listing all of the gifts included in His offer of grace and salvation. But they make the titles and gifts offered to Kate Middleton pale in comparison.
Jesus Christ, the Savior, the Messiah – He has stepped before you and made the most incredible offer you’ll ever receive. It is a fairy-tale-like promise of a changed life from the inside out. And He is offering it to — YOU. You are the focus of His love, and the desire of His heart. Like anyone proposing marriage, He offers you all that He has and all that He is, and asks you to spend the rest of your life with Him learning to love Him better and better each day.
“Wow, THAT’S a nice gift.”
FOR IT IS BY GRACE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED, THROUGH FAITH —
AND THIS IS NOT FROM YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD
