When we think of gift exchange we think of I give you, you give me, everyone's happy and we are done. But God's idea of exchange is so different. He is never done. He is truly the gift that keeps on giving. He is such a gracious God, constantly giving to us regardless of our lack of commitment we give to him. Everything around us is a gift from him, the air we breathe, waking up to a new day, our jobs, health, husbands, and children....I know, sometimes we doubt those last two, but seriously, we can find a gift from God in our everyday routine of life.
His most precious gift to us is the one we take for granted the most. God's perfect son who was born from a virgin to die on the cross for our sin, our redemption, and our freedom. Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death, but the FREE gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord".
One of the most cliche Bible verses John 3:16 we probably all know it by heart, “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life". Do we really believe in this verse, or do we only believe it to have eternal life? Yes, the ultimate goal is to have eternal life with God, but what about this life? This scripture is for this life...to have freedom in this life.
When we first become saved, we are usually in a desperate situation and need God to show up and fix things. We want him to take over and be Lord of our lives, surrendering all of us...the good, bad, and ugly. Well, that's what we are supposed to do, but what do we really give him in exchange?
Maybe you're like me and feel the need to control what we will or will not surrender to him. I have no problem surrendering all the good and easy stuff, but its that hard and painful stuff he wants. I remember a time when God wanted me to surrender some things to him, but I just couldn't do it. I had to hold onto it because it had caused me so much pain, if I let go of it who would I be without it? I had carried it around for so long it had become apart of my identity.
Isn't that why He died, so we wouldn't have to carry around all the things that separate us from Him and walk in freedom? Our identity is in Christ, not the in all the brokenness, pain, fear, anxiety, disappointment, rejection, and betrayals. If we continue to hang onto all these things then what was the point of His brutal death?
So, if we don't believe that this free gift is for this life, than we certainly can't accept or receive anything from Him. Receiving it means letting go of all the ugly that consumes us and allowing him to cover it with his grace. Getting rid of all of it so there is room for what he has for us. Accepting it means accepting the fact that you are good enough to receive from Him. He loves you and has great things for you. Don't feel like you can't receive from him because of what you have done. To Him, you're precious and He thinks you're worthy enough. Accepting it means living out the freedom. No longer accepting who you once were, but walking out who you're supposed to be.
His plan all along was to send his son to the earth and live life just like we would. He would experience temptations, rejection and physical pain that would ultimately lead to His death. He would resurrect from the dead in three days and before He left, His last instructions to the disciples and to us was to GO! Go into all the world and tell them about him and what he has done and can do.
Here's the best part of it all...the beautiful exchange. Once we give God all our stuff, the ugly broken stuff, He takes it and strategically places it all back together like only He can do. When He's done it's the most beautiful thing. He then hands it back to us and says "here you go my precious child, now will you go? I have plans for you that only you can do. Will you accept this and will you go?"
You see, He doesn't put us all back together for us to sit on a shelf and be pretty. He does it for his purposes, our God given destiny.... so His glory will be known. We've got some work to do. It's up to us whether or not we receive the calling on our lives. Time is short, but there's only so much that we can do if we stay broken, or chained to all our failures, insecurities, fears, and pain. People, there's freedom in Jesus. He is waiting to give you this FREE gift, so please accept it. What do you have to loose?
This Christmas, lets remember what this day represents. Its the day that freedom was born to walk the earth and eventually die for us, and for our freedom. As you are with you family and friends exchanging and opening gifts, let it be a reminder of all the gifts God desires to give you. Will you exchange your ugly for His beauty? Trust me, you will get the better end of that deal!
Merry Christmas!!
Love,
Charlyn
