The Gift

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
Ephesians 2:9-10

It is funny how it is, when you receive a gift from someone who surprises you, and says, "I saw this and thought of you," and then presents you with the gift, for no reason. For me, it makes me all smiley inside, and I take the gift, knowing that I did nothing to earn this gift, or deserve this gift, that the presenter is giving it because he or she thought of me. That is what God did when He saved you and me. It is a gift. Now, God sure knows what He is doing, because, if He had made it so that there was something that I could do to earn my salvation, I would get all puffed up and prideful and turn to people and say, "Did you see what I have done?" And I would try to convince the world around me how great I am. Don't shake your head at me, you would too. It's human nature. But God, in His infinite wisdom, took you and me out of the picture completely. It is a gift from Him to you, to me. All we have to do is receive it. We have been saved by grace: unmerited favor. And by faith we receive it and believe it, and then walk it out. Because if WE had anything to do with it, we would become prideful and boastful, and all puffed up. The Word says that no flesh should glory in His presence (1 Corinthians 1:29). So He takes care of that for us by taking us out of the picture. It's all Him.

And then, beloved, He tells us that we are His workmanship. The word used there, in the Greek language, the original language that most of the New Testament was written in, the word in the Greek used is the word from where we get our English word for poem. You and I were created the same way a poet creates a poem. Now, I write just a bit, and I have been known to craft a poem or two, so I can tell you first hand, that sometimes much time and effort is put in to finding just the right word, just the right phrase, to express the feeling of the heart. And that is what He did with you and I. We were created with just the right personality, just the right make up, to bring glory to God. When a poet finishes a poem, he wants someone to read it. When God is working on and in us, He wants someone to see us, so that He can smile over us and rejoice in us, and just pour out His love on us. God, the Creator of the Universe, is also the creator of you and me. And He loves us.

So beloved, today, as you hit the highways and byways, do not be discouraged. Do not be downhearted. Our God is a mighty God. And He loves you and me enough to make a way of reconciliation to Him, through His Son Jesus Christ. And it is a gift. All we have to do is receive it, and believe it, and walk it out in the flesh He has put us in temporarily. Amen? Amen.