Free Gifts

I was sitting in church last week and after the sermon I came to a new understanding of my faith. Maybe I’m slow, but maybe I’m not. I know that I’ve heard that God’s gift of salvation is free, and I understand it but now it has a new meaning for me.

Gods’ gift is free. It’s free. I don’t need to do anything. It’s not a buy one get one free deal. It’s not a do this for the free gift. All it requires of me is acceptance of this gift. Other religions you have to follow these steps or do things. ‘If you meditate enough during the day you will find your inner peace and your heaven. If you only eat certain foods, if you pray everyday, if you give this much money, if you are good, you do good things for other, you will make it to heaven.’ That is what other religions tell me; If I work hard enough I will be free from my burdens and worries, I can free myself!

But God tells me, “ You don’t need to do anything. You don’t need to pray, you don’t need to do good things or give money. I’m giving this away and all you need to do is accept it.“

What kind of God is this? He requires nothing? There’s a catch right? I have to do what God tells me? Buy into a church right?

No. Just plain acceptance of this gift. Acceptance of this completely undeserving gift? I want to know more. More about this God that requires nothing from me. A free gift given so simply. What is this God thinking? That is why I follow Him. That is why I do what God asks me. He doesn’t make me, I don’t have to love others, to give to others, to tithe, to pray, to read my Bible, to share God’s love, but He asks me to do these things. He simply asks that as someone who loves Him, who has accepted His gift, that I do these things.

Maybe that still isn’t clear, but to me it makes sense. I don’t have to pray. I don’t have to love others, but God gave me a free gift with no strings attached so these things that He asks me to do are the LEAST I can do in thanks, not in repayment, cause I can never repay what has been given to me. I love and follow God to try to better understand why He has blessed me so much.