Have you ever been given a gift? Not something that someone was obligated to bestow to you for any reason, but something truly heartfelt that they just wanted to do. How did that make you feel? Receiving presents, especially things that we feel we don't deserve is really hard. The more extravagant the gift, the harder it is to accept, am I right? The reason why we don't have any qualms about receiving gifts on holidays is that it has become culturally acceptable. If I bought an iPod for my best friend for Christmas, he might be astonished, but he would probably have very little difficulty accepting it. Imagine tomorrow, your best friend walks up and hands you a wrapped box. You open it up and pull out a brand new iPad. I would be amazed if you didn't start to object to receiving such an expensive gift.
We reflect our creator. It's only our nature. He is the greatest gift giver in the entire world, someone that finds pleasure in bestowing gifts on his children. We're made in the image of God. One of the effects of this is that we find a deep, satisfying pleasure in giving presents. I'm not entirely sure about this, but maybe another of the effects is that we want to receive gifts that we percieve we deserve. Yahweh is "I am who I am," making him deserving of all gifts, praise, and offerings. "The beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair." So many people have trouble accepting grace. We don't want it. We don't think we need it. Everyone else gives us what we deserve, why should God be any different? Right?
If that were true, there would be no savior, there would be no salvation, and there would most likely be no us. God is beautiful because he is different. God gave us the perfect gift. Imagine yourself on the day you get engaged, your beloved offers you the most beautiful ring you have ever seen. It would seem like the perfect gift. Now imagine that ring transforming into eternal life, a chance to commune with God, and adoption.
I don't like undeserved gifts anymore than any of you... But I'm learning to love them.

Listen up kids. You been walking the road of ignorance for too long.

You're not worth his love. You're not worth his time.

...But he loves you anyway. He sent His son to die in your place. That's grace. That's love.


Please stop avoiding freedom.


Believe.