Receiving
become real to you. It may finally sink in that you don’t have to be a giver in order to receive others’ love and God’s love. His type of love is unconditional. As strange as it may sound, this may be one of the greatest gifts God has ever given to you. Am I saying that becoming dependent on others is a blessing in disguise? That is exactly what I am saying. And, before you write me off as crazy, please listen. According to the Bible, God’s greatest gift to us, namely our salvation, is because of his grace. Grace is defined as receiving something we don’t deserve (Please read: John 1:12, 3:16; Romans 3:23; 5:8, and Ephesians 2:8-9). Don’t let pride, the cardinal sin of all sins, stand in the way of your receiving God’s love and grace. Sometimes he sends his love through other people. As you allow yourself to receive love from others, you will be better able to receive the love of the One who was nailed to a Roman cross for you. In other words, as you give yourself permission to receive, you open yourself to the love of Christ. It is called grace. The issue is whether you will allow yourself to receive this love. God and others have gifts to give you, but you must be willing to humble yourself and allow them the gift of giving to you. If the roles were reversed, would you want to give to them? Probably so. So, allow them to give to you. Am I saying you’re to allow them to give to you for their good? Yes, but also do it for yourself. Sometimes pride must die in order that the seeds of God’s unconditional love can grow in our hearts. That’s what grace is all about: receiving what we don’t deserve. d
The Times asked a number of writers for essays on the topic “What’s Wrong with the World?” G.K. Chesterton’s reply may have been the shortest and most to the point in history: “Dear Sirs: I am. Sincerely yours, G.K. Chesterton”
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