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We should always be quick to remember that God loves us unconditionally and
without motive. His love is pure and is offered to all who will simply
receive it. The Bible says that while we were yet sinners Christ died for
us. The Lord Jesus Christ took upon Himself our sins and died in our stead
so that we may live eternally through His sacrificial death. Such love
cannot be comprehended with our finite minds, yet thankfully exists to all
who will humble themselves and receive God's free gift of forgiveness and
salvation. Be encouraged to call upon the Lord thanking Him for all that
He has done for you. (Jeremiah 31:3) (Romans 5:8-11) (John 3:16-17)
I hope today's message challenges your heart to be thankful for the gift of
salvation that was bought on the cross of Calvary by the sacrifice of the
Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that we might live for Him.
NADYNNE'S GIFT
I have, to my great joy, a new bike. It's not really new, it's actually an
old Schwinn. It belonged to my friend and neighbor, Nadynne, until, in a
great act of generosity, she gave it to me. I had spied the bicycle behind
her house one afternoon while the kids and I were out exploring the alley
and I instantly fell in love with it. Maybe it was because it kind of
reminded me in a way of my big sister's bike when we were kids and those
happier, simpler times. Or, maybe it represented freedom, a rare commodity
to a mother of four.
I had been longing for a bicycle for a long time. And while the kids had
had various 10 speeds throughout the years, what I really wanted was an old
style girl’s bike with regular handlebars and a regular seat. And there,
before my eyes, was my dream bike. It even had a wire basket on the front
and, best of all, it was green, my favorite color. And now it was mine.
First, I was struck by how well the Lord knows our hearts. I don't recall
ever having prayed for a bicycle but somehow He seemed to know about it
anyway. I thought of those verses in the Bible about how exceedingly
abundant He answers our prayers and about how wide and how high and how
deep His love is for us. As these thoughts passed through my mind I was
suddenly humbled by what it was that Nadynne had given up to give me this
precious gift because I knew what the bike had meant to her.
She had told me how she had come to have the bike and the enjoyment it had
given her. She had shared how she longed to ride it again but how her
husband, George, was afraid with her history of dislocated hips, that she
might injure herself. And so, she had told me after inviting me to lunch
one day that George had said the bike was mine. But I couldn't accept it.
I couldn't make myself go into her yard and take her bike, knowing how much
she loved it, and roll it away into mine. It was too much like taking it
away from her.
So that is how I found myself opening the door one beautiful, sunny
Saturday morning to Nadynne and her equally sunny disposition. I don't know
how I didn't notice the bike parked at the bottom of the steps. After some
chit chat she pointed out that she had brought her bike to me.
All I needed to do was accept which I did with my heart breaking at the
same time. Her generosity overwhelmed me and with tears I tried to tell
her how grateful I was. I told her she couldn't know what that bike meant
to me.
She responded, in her understated way, and was glad to know that her bike
would be well taken care of.
Afterwards, as I was praying, thanking God for Nadynne and her generosity
and His mysterious ways, it was as though He spoke to my heart that what
Nadynne had done with the bike was much like what He had done for me
through His Son Jesus. For He had seen my need and had given me a gift that
had cost Him dearly.
Like Nadynne's, the gift was all the more precious because of what it had
cost the Giver. It was something that could only come from Him, something
someone else couldn't give to me. And, like Nadynne's, it was free, given
out of love and I only needed to humble myself and accept it. It was simple
and beautiful and it would give me glorious freedom.
While it means so much to me, my new bike is nothing fancy. It doesn't have
all kinds of gizmos and gadgets but I like it that way. It's perfect in its
simplicity. It only has one speed, the only one I need to get me where I
want to go.
Really, my bike only needs 3 things. The first is new tubes so I can take
it out and try it. Second, the reflector on the back needs to be replaced.
Last, I think I'd like to get one of those little bells, the kind that goes
“ching-ching”, so I can ring it just for the joy of it. I hope when Nadynne
hears it, it will make her smile and be glad that her gift is bringing me
such happiness.
You know, when you think about it, that's what we need to do with God's
gift, too. We need to take it out where it can be seen. We need to reflect
that gift towards others and, just maybe, we need to ring out just for the
Joy of what He has done for us and for the freedom we have in Him.
By Sherry Kaiser
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
John 3:16-17 Jesus declares “For God so loved the world, that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but
have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn
the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.”
Romans 13:8-10 “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that
loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit
adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear
false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment,
it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love
is the fulfilling of the law.”
1 John 4:7-11 “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and
every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not
knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God
toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that
we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that
He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved,
if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: I ASKED GOD...
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem102.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: VICKIE'S WAY TO A NEW LIFE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony94.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
