I’d rather give than receive. Rather celebrate others than have them celebrate me.
But someone I love dearly taught me that being an ungracious receiver of gifts offered makes me an ungracious receiver of their love.
This year when my husband started looking at cowgirl boots for my birthday, my mind immediately protested: “You shouldn’t do that for me. They’re too much. We can spend that money on something more important.”
Thankfully, none of those words left my lips. Because I watched his face as he searched online and talked to me about the different styles. I saw joy and love and purpose. I saw how much he wanted to do this for me. Why would I then rob him of the love he wanted to express? Why would I deny him offering a gift that goes far beyond a pair of boots?
Knowing I silenced the protests makes the gift even sweeter. Knowing I let my husband love and celebrate me exactly how he wanted makes it sweeter still. And by being a gracious receiver, I got the additional gift of his amazing smile. It doesn’t get any sweeter than that!
Not unlike refusing a gift someone offers us, we can refuse God’s gift of salvation. But why would we rob Him of the love He’s already expressed on the cross? Why would we not want to put a smile on His face?
Today, can I encourage you to graciously receive the gift of God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ? Silence the protests that say, “You shouldn’t do that for me. It’s too much. You could spend Your life on someone more important than me.”
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NIV)
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32
For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2