My best friend and Golfing Buddy surprised me today....I spend so much time in the water hazards on golf courses my friends call me “ Aqua Man”......My golf ball supply was getting dangerously low and from out of nowhere and for no real good reason other than the fact that he likes me a lot, he gifted me with about 5O golf balls! Wow! I was so surprised , so happy and so grateful for this nice thing he did for me, all I did on my drive to the golf course was to try to think of ways I could show my gratitude to him....should I take him out to eat somewhere....buy him a Lowe’s Gift Certificate or something? I did not really know what to do—- they only thing I knew for sure was that I was Determined to pay him back with an act of kindness from myself....I was ate-up with it.....
Now isn’t this just an example of “ Human Nature” ..... a Natural response that even the most vile men share.....even guys like Hitler know how to repay a favor and do it without any reluctance.....they are eager to do so....
Of course, God, the One that created “ human nature”, knows about this , and my little experience today got me to thinking about the “parallels” that exist between the gifts of men and the gifts of God....
A gift of golf balls ain’t bad, but think about the Gift that God gave us....a gift we never deserved and a gift that God was not forced to give.....the gift of dying for our sins.....without this gift, we would all be consigned to an Eternity in Hell....If ANYTHING should ever promote a spirit of Gratitude, wouldn't it be THAT?
Here is what I am driving at.....when it actually HIT ME that Jesus died for ALL of my sins—— past, present , and future—- and because of my Faith in Christ, God would Save me “ To The UTTERMOST”, it brought out that Natural Response to Repay the One that gifted me! Repay on Steroids!
I could certainly never repay God for what He did for me when I was such a wretched man , “ DEAD in Trespasses and Sins”, yet it is only Natural to want to try.....
This is why the Gospel works so effectively when properly understood ....this is where it gets its Power.....when, deep in your heart, it finally Hits you as to what God has done for you through His Son , the Natural Response is to be obsessed with paying God back by trying to live a life that is pleasing to Him....
The Confused ,Religious man who has never really experienced this life- changing event warns everybody —— “ Hey, If God forgives ALL of our sins, sin will break out all over the place ! People will think that they can Sin and get away with it and all He’ll will break loose!”
I am sorry, Mr.Religionist/ Mr.Legalism......knowing ALL of my sins are forgiven Spurs something that is just the opposite of your Legalistic, small-minded fears......it spurs a thankfulness and a sense of gratitude and a Relief that the burden of trying to “ Be Worthy” is finally off my shoulders that I want to “ return the favor” and be Obedient to the God that I have now learned how to Love....” Love” being the Engine that drives Obedience .....no longer Fear.....
Gratitude for free golf balls is one thing —— When you have been rescued from an Eternity in Hell ,( especially when you more than deserved it! ) and it really “ hits home” with you , the “ gratitude” and the Impetus for Right Living should and Will all come about on its own.....naturally.....
The problems that we see in these Forums daily mostly stem from the fact that many people simply don’t believe the Gospel .....it’s True......Jesus actually DID die for ALL of your Sins....Some say that Jesus died for your “ past” sins and now it is up to you to “ make yourself Worthy” . How sad. How Unbiblical. How Wrong. By simply Believing The Gospel Of 1Cor15:1-4, you are * MADE WORTHY* by the Blood Of The Lamb......take that to the Bank! Or the Golf Course..... God bless......
Now isn’t this just an example of “ Human Nature” ..... a Natural response that even the most vile men share.....even guys like Hitler know how to repay a favor and do it without any reluctance.....they are eager to do so....
Of course, God, the One that created “ human nature”, knows about this , and my little experience today got me to thinking about the “parallels” that exist between the gifts of men and the gifts of God....
A gift of golf balls ain’t bad, but think about the Gift that God gave us....a gift we never deserved and a gift that God was not forced to give.....the gift of dying for our sins.....without this gift, we would all be consigned to an Eternity in Hell....If ANYTHING should ever promote a spirit of Gratitude, wouldn't it be THAT?
Here is what I am driving at.....when it actually HIT ME that Jesus died for ALL of my sins—— past, present , and future—- and because of my Faith in Christ, God would Save me “ To The UTTERMOST”, it brought out that Natural Response to Repay the One that gifted me! Repay on Steroids!
I could certainly never repay God for what He did for me when I was such a wretched man , “ DEAD in Trespasses and Sins”, yet it is only Natural to want to try.....
This is why the Gospel works so effectively when properly understood ....this is where it gets its Power.....when, deep in your heart, it finally Hits you as to what God has done for you through His Son , the Natural Response is to be obsessed with paying God back by trying to live a life that is pleasing to Him....
The Confused ,Religious man who has never really experienced this life- changing event warns everybody —— “ Hey, If God forgives ALL of our sins, sin will break out all over the place ! People will think that they can Sin and get away with it and all He’ll will break loose!”
I am sorry, Mr.Religionist/ Mr.Legalism......knowing ALL of my sins are forgiven Spurs something that is just the opposite of your Legalistic, small-minded fears......it spurs a thankfulness and a sense of gratitude and a Relief that the burden of trying to “ Be Worthy” is finally off my shoulders that I want to “ return the favor” and be Obedient to the God that I have now learned how to Love....” Love” being the Engine that drives Obedience .....no longer Fear.....
Gratitude for free golf balls is one thing —— When you have been rescued from an Eternity in Hell ,( especially when you more than deserved it! ) and it really “ hits home” with you , the “ gratitude” and the Impetus for Right Living should and Will all come about on its own.....naturally.....
The problems that we see in these Forums daily mostly stem from the fact that many people simply don’t believe the Gospel .....it’s True......Jesus actually DID die for ALL of your Sins....Some say that Jesus died for your “ past” sins and now it is up to you to “ make yourself Worthy” . How sad. How Unbiblical. How Wrong. By simply Believing The Gospel Of 1Cor15:1-4, you are * MADE WORTHY* by the Blood Of The Lamb......take that to the Bank! Or the Golf Course..... God bless......