by Victoria Heinecke

The gift that is truly free.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 New International Version (NIV)

We celebrated Member Appreciation Week at the gym recently. I worked a few extra hours to help with the event. I set up a table and wrote a sign on a large whiteboard which said “thank you,” and invited members to pick up a t-shirt with our thanks.

As people entered the gym, they looked over at the table and glanced at the sign and the display. Some kept on walking. A few slowed down but kept a distance from the table. Someone finally asked me how much the t-shirts cost.

It was then I realized that I forgot to write a word on the sign: “FREE.”

I quickly changed the sign, and after a while, people started to gather at the table. They were happy to receive a shirt and they neither had to pay for it, nor sign up for anything to receive it.

Several thought that, because they had a free membership with their Medicare policy, they weren’t actually members of the gym. They were pleased to learn their names were in the book as well.

I worked at the table for five days and couldn’t stop thinking about how we sometimes view our relationship with God, and the grace and peace he offers, in a similar way.

God’s grace is a free gift, and all we have to do is believe in him.

It’s nothing to be afraid of, or skeptical about.

You don’t have to buy it.

You don’t have to belong to a particular denomination or church.

“I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life…”
Revelation 3:5a NIV

Be assured that, by his grace, God will see you through any difficult time and rejoice with you when you rejoice. Rejoice with him, and be glad!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado