Daily Worship

Forgiven, loved and free

Norah Summers November 26, 2015 0 0

Ephesians 2: 4-10

But God's mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, 5 that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. It is by God's grace that you have been saved. 6 In our union with Christ Jesus he raised us up with him to rule with him in the heavenly world. 7 He did this to demonstrate for all time to come the extraordinary greatness of his grace in the love he showed us in Christ Jesus. 8-9 For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it. 10 God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.

Grace in receiving –
Gracious God, give us grace in receiving.

“Forgiven, loved and free”
says a line in a hymn.

Forgiveness, love, freedom –
all gifts.

None deserved,
none earned –
all gifts.

It may be more blessed to give than to receive,
but it is often easier –
receiving gracefully is very difficult.

We don’t want to be beholden to anyone.
We don’t want to be in anyone’s debt.
We are afraid some price will still be exacted –
old stories and myths 
are full of people who bargain with their gods,
or with the Fates,
promising to make sacrifice 
if only their wishes are granted.

Loving God,
we give thanks that you are not like that,
that your grace is there for all,

But we have to receive it –
how hard is that?

It is not easy to receive, even from other people –
some gifts are indeed bought at a price 
which someone else has paid –

adoptive parents know this, 
so do transplant recipients.

Loving God,
how much greater is the gift you offer –

Can showing grace in receiving indeed be a thank-offering? 
a kind of sacrifice?
as we give up the idea that we can earn our own salvation, 
and rely entirely on you
and the extraordinary greatness of your grace
in the love you showed us in Christ Jesus.

Thank you, God,
thank you.