We trade our gifts on Christmas Eve, or Christmas morn, or some convenient holiday. We wait to see a grateful smile, or wide-eyed wonder on a child’s face—all quietly aware our turn is next: the next gift will be handed us.
And though this pageant brings us joy, and warms our hearts, we dare not say it represents the gospel, even though it’s full of gifts. Our calculations typically are tuned to give of equal value. We won’t embarrass others with extravagance that they can’t match, nor do we like the debt we feel when we receive “too much.”
But heaven gave extravagantly when heaven gave us Jesus. He came with nothing in His hands but everything—all riches—in His heart. His greatest joy is in our joy—and in our inability to trade Him anything in return.
Grace is a gift we cannot earn, and don’t deserve, and can’t repay. We don’t make things “even” by obedience, or costly sums, or kindly deeds that lessen obligation. He who “owns the cattle on a thousand hills”—and all the hills—isn’t seeking reciprocity.
Accept the gift. Embrace the Child. Be overwhelmed with joy.
And stay in grace. -Bill Knott
KEEP ON SINGING (December 18, 2020)
SAVING OUR STORIES (December 11, 2020)
GRACE ON THE GROUND (December 4, 2020)
FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH (November 27, 2020)
THE CHOICE TO LOVE (November 20, 2020)
THE GREAT UNLEARNING (November 13, 2020)
BEYOND THE GALAXY (November 6, 2020)
THE BEST KIND OF GRAFFITI (October 30, 2020)
THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING (October 23, 2020)
WINNING TOGETHER (October 16, 2020)
WHEN GRIPPED BY GUILT (October 9, 2020)
BEYOND DEBATE (October 2, 2020)
BEST SELFIE OF ALL (September 25, 2020)
THE ROAD MUCH TRAVELED (September 18, 2020)
RE-TELLING GRACE (September 11, 2020)
GRACE KNEELS (September 4, 2020)
BEYOND REGRET (August 28, 2020)
TENACIOUS GRACE (August 21, 2020)
WHEN GRADITUDE IS ALL (August 14, 2020)
LOVE ON TRIAL (August 7, 2020)
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