Hello Precious Friends!  I hope you are having a good month.  I look forward to seeing you on March 23, 24 at PWC.  Mark your calendars now and be sure to invite a friend. You can RSVP to Dskell@roaringlambsministries.org

Here’s a devotional thought for this week:

When’s the last time you received one of those gifts that was less than thrilling? After you wrote your thank you note, I’m guessing you either put the lackluster gift in the “gift closet” to pass on to someone else down the line, or you took it to Goodwill in order to get a tax write off.  Let’s admit it, we’ve all received a few gifts that weren’t quite our favorites.

On the other hand, each of us has also received a few gifts that we would consider treasures.  We really enjoy them and use them.  They make us smile.  There are some gifts that are “keepers” with all certainty.  The Bible talks about one gift that is the best by far.  Paul called it “God’s unspeakable gift.”  In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul urged them not to receive God’s grace in vain (2Corinthians 6:1).  The word vain means uselessly.  Paul is telling them not to take the treasure of God’s grace lightly or to live as though it is worthless (as we would if we had received a bad gift).  Instead we are to take the grace of God seriously, recognizing the true treasure it is to us.

George Barlow said, “Grace is what all need, what none can merit and what God alone can give.” Oh how precious the grace of God.  Because of His grace we have hope.  Because of his kindness we are forgiven, redeemed, transformed, reconciled and made new.  God’s grace is the greatest treasure we can ever receive.  It is not a throw away gift, yet how often do we treat it as such?  Do we value God’s gift with our lives? Do we live in gratitude each day for the treasure we have received? Do we share this gift with others? Let us not neglect so great a salvation! 

May we live each day with thankful hearts for the great treasure God has so lovingly granted!  Jesus gave His life so that we may have life.  My friend if you have never received this gift through faith, I encourage you to put your faith in Christ who gave his life on the cross for you and for me.  He rose again giving us promise of eternal life. “Today is the day of salvation,” Paul said in this very same passage.  If you have already received this gift, I want to encourage you to take time today to thank God for His kindness.   It is my hope that each of us will reflect the glory of His grace in our daily lives as we radiate the joy of the greatest gift ever given.