The Gift

I was asking myself the other night why this time was different in my walk with God. How did I know I wouldn’t stray away...lose faith? So many times I tried to live right. My experiences with God were like diet fads. Instant results but sooner than later it all came back. And it hit me that Salvation isn’t a checklist. In fact, you can’t earn it. It’s a gift.

John 3:16-18 The Passion Translation (TPT)

16 For this is how much God loved the world—he gave his one and only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life.

I memorized this verse and have quoted it 1000 times and learned something new tonight.

“Salvation and regeneration must be by faith. True faith has a number of components: acceptance, embracing something (someone) as truth, union with God and his Word, and an inner confidence that God alone is enough.” (Passion Translation footnotes)

For the first time in my life, God alone is enough. I accepted him, but I didn’t embrace Him. I tried to earn Him. But I couldn’t. No one can.

When I think about the fact that God loves us so much He made a plan to unite with us I’m humbled. I think about my children...specifically my teens. They really don’t prepare you for parenting teenagers because they pull away and it’s heartbreaking. But the love I feel for them withstands anything they could throw at me. It’s unconditional love. And that my friends, is what God’s love is multiplied by infinity.