God's Great Gift

My son, Samuel, just turned three years old. It was an exciting time for me. It was the first birthday he has really seemed to grasp.

The entire week was filled with anticipation. Every day, Samuel would ask, “Is it my birthday yet?” We’d say “No, not yet, but it’s coming.” His reply was, “I want choc’ate cake.”

Well, we had chocolate cake. Samuel enjoyed that and his balloons probably as much as anything (how nice to be so easily pleased). We even took the little guy on his first trip ever to the movie theater to see “Happy Feet.” It was nice to see him smile. I probably spent more time watching his face than watching the movie.

Yet, sometimes birthdays can get to a kid’s head. All the gifts, the catered conversation and some sugary chocolate cake can make a kid think he rules the roost. Yet, in our household, birthdays are no free ticket to unruly behavior. So, Samuel did receive “the rod of discipline” a time or two that day.

It got me thinking. Christians can be like that too. In Romans 6:23 Paul says, “...the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” A gift like that is a great reason to rejoice, smile and be filled with anticipation for the life to come.

Yet, some Christians can be guilty of abusing the gift. We may begin to think that God’s gift means we can live as we please and He will give it to us anyway. Yet, when someone begins to think like that, it is time for some discipline. God’s grace is no excuse to sin!

In Romans 6:1-2, Paul asked, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!” Later, He asked again, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” (Romans 6:15).

Peter phrased a similar command in this way: “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God” (1 Peter 3:15-16).
God offers a great gift. Accept it and rejoice in it, but do not abuse it. It can be taken away! Think about it.
 

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