Today’s scripture: Hebrews 10:11-18 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Jeff Cope):
People have a hard time accepting a gift without giving something in return. If I think back to times in the past where someone has given me a gift and I didn’t reciprocate, it gave me feelings of guilt that I didn’t think to get that person something. Immediately my wheels start spinning about “next time” and what I can do to make things even. We are always trying to level the playing field when it comes to giving and receiving with others.
The gift of forgiveness and eternal life is not one that comes with conditions. There is nothing you did to receive it and no payment is required on your part. Jesus paid the ultimate price so we could have eternal life, period. Nothing you can do will take that gift away. On top of that, God promises to FORGET your sins as though they never happened. “Then he adds: Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more” (Hebrews 10:17).
This seems counterintuitive to the way that our human minds work. God is promising not only to forgive, but to forget our sins. Let that sink in a little. We often forgive others, but it is impossible to forget decisions they’ve made that may have hurt us. Others in our lives are the sum of good and bad experiences we have had with them. That is not how God sees us though. He knows us on a much more intimate level and doesn’t judge us based on our past. Furthermore, nothing you can do will make God love you more or less.
So does that mean we should not do anything at all for God? Absolutely not. What I believe it means is that we should spread goodwill in God’s name but not as a sacrifice for what’s been done for us. Honor God by emulating and living like Jesus. Be kind to others even if their flaws seem apparent to you since that’s what God does for all of us.
If someone gave you a grill as a gift, you might be tempted to get them something in return of equal value. Instead, honor them by cooking them a meal with it.
Thought for the day: God has given us a gift so immeasurably grand and God has done so without expecting anything in return. The next time someone tells you there’s no such thing as a free lunch, I hope you use the opportunity to introduce them to our God.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.