Receiving!

How do you feel about gifts? Do you find it easier to give something or to receive something? Do you like to give gifts or do you prefer to receive gifts that just come to you without any prior “effort”? Or ask yourself: do you ever manage to go to someones house without a gift and just enjoy the evening?

The whole word of God is a generous and powerful invitation – because the only way into the kingdom of God is by receiving! If we want to belong to his kingdom, we must first receive his gift, there is no other way. We must let ourselves be invited and come empty-handed. Undeserving. Amazed. Grateful.

 I thank God for his gift that words cannot describe. 2.Corinthians 9:15

Now, if you have accepted the gift of God and belong to the Kingdom of God – do you have to perform to pay for it or to earn it? No, of course not, otherwise it wouldn’t be a gift!

Imagine a tree. A tree always strives for light, water and nutrients. Its roots grow to where they are best supplied. And its branches grow in the direction where it has the most light. The tree lives by receiving. It receives light, water and nutrients and reaches out for them. And from receiving everything it needs, it will naturally produce fruit.

It’ s the same for us! Out of regular, continual receiving we will produce fruit. Not out of our own efforts. The tree can produce nothing from itself, neither can we.

God didn’t spare his own Son but handed him over to death for all of us. So he will also give us everything along with him.
Romans 8:32

At Christmas we celebrate the gift of God, his Son. During Advent we are waiting to celebrate him again. We may marvel and give thanks for this undeserved gift.

But lets not forget that we can and should also receive our daily bread, our daily dose of love and everything we need from Jesus! He has gifts ready for you every day! Will you pick them up?

We are connected to Jesus and from him we receive everything we need to grow and thrive. We may reach out and receive. Jesus paid for our sins – the most precious gift. Eternal life is also a huge gift. But God has so much more in store for us, and he rejoices when we accept his gifts and unwrap them. He promises us so much more! Peace, joy, hope, love… Pick up and receive your gifts!