18-Oct-14

By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of you contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! 2 Corinthians 9:13-15What would you say is the greatest gift you have ever received?  Without a doubt, I would name my husband and our children – Dan, Paul, Tim and Anna.  But is that the greatest gift?  How would I know the value of that gift unless I remember the priceless gift I received long before my family?  A gift of love that has changed my life completely.It was in 1937 in the early spring.  I remember going down into the water with our pastor.  Coming up out of the watery grave of baptism, I was new, from the inside out.  I have often remembered that freedom of newness I experienced and pondered its glory.  Now, 77 years later, I remember that moment in time and praise God.  From that moment on God saw me as His child.  This is God’s indescribable gift, not only for me, but for you.As I consider Jesus and his sacrifice, I do not want his free gift to go unheeded.  For as I grow in holiness and understanding, I am assured of the day when I receive eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Each day I draw nearer to see Jesus – my Redeemer – Face to Face.But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:22-23