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Bread for the Journey



But then God our Saviour showed us his kindness and love.  He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy.  He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:4-5 NLT

When I recently received this beautifully wrapped gift from my friend. ..
I thought it was a lovely demonstration of her kindness and love toward me.
Don't you just love giving gifts to deserving people? I  usually have cards and little tokens of appreciation tucked away with people in mind.
It is easy to give lovely gifts to people who are nice to us,
or to our adult children when they are a blessing to us.
or to our little children when they have been obedient and have demonstrated an attitude that we want to encourage.

I then thought about how God gives us gifts in such a different way.  We've been studying Jonah in our weekend services in church.    When God asked Jonah to go tell the people of Nineveh to repent he ran in the opposite direction and we know that did not work well for him.  After he realized that he could not disobey God and decided to go he was unhappy because he expected they might repent and he felt that they did not deserve God's compassion.  He went into the city told them to repent and as we know. ..they did.  The city meant business and seriously demonstrated that they would turn from their evil ways.  God was compassionate on the city who had sinned in every conceivable way.  They were not destroyed but rather saved. 

Then thought about myself and how I perceive my own sins.  The Bible is clear when it says that sin is sin.  I needed to admit that I sometimes find it hard to fathom that I need to repent just as much as the evilest person in the world.

God who sees my heart .. saw me for who I was and in his vast love, chose to give me (all of us)  the most amazing gift I  (we) could ever imagine.
God sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for me (us) and in his mercy, he forgave my (our) sins and gave me (us) a new life in Jesus Christ.
Humanly, it makes no sense but I am so grateful and so thankful for the gift I did not deserve but was given in grace.  No wonder we call his compassion on us . .."amazing grace."

God's love is the same for all of mankind.  We only need to see our need to repent and then accept and believe in Jesus. Can you relate to this?  Are you in need of a Saviour today?

May you have a blessed Sunday!


8 comments:

  1. That was a beautfully wrapped gift you received!! It was the perfect illustration for the message you gave about God's beautiful gift to us. The measuring spoons reminded me that God's love has no measure. Thank you so much.

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  2. Beautifully expressed. Yes, I need my Savior every day! And I am so grateful for that day, many years ago now, when I invited Him to live in my heart. It changes everything. It changes my total perspective. His love and salvation is the ultimate good thing! Blessings to you today...

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  3. The older I get the more I understand my depravity and need for my Savior. Thank you for these thoughts Lovella.

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  4. Well said today. I think we have all occasionally tried to behave like Jonah. And you are right, it never works out. Love this thought today. Thank you for sharing.

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  5. Amen! One of my favorite verses.

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  6. How precious is His love for us. I was raised in the church and have lived my life for Him accepting Him as a small child. He is my savior and His gift is "amazing"! He has blest and been so faithful with His presence during the difficult times of this life. Thank you Lovella for your insight. I so enjoy your devotional posts.

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  7. I got to know Jonah in a new way this weekend, in regard his anger at God for being so forgiving!
    Somewhere in that service the thought in a song, or otherwise, hit me about God's love being as large as the ocean . . . I've flown over the ocean...in a very fast jet . . . and it takes a long time to get to the other side. You couldn't ever measure it. It is amazing grace for sure!

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  8. I know this was from a couple of weeks ago, but it blessed me today! Thanks for your wonderfully expressed words.

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