The Gift

How many times have we hear Christ's work of salvation compared to a gift, literally a beautiful box in ribbons for us to open and know that we have been forgiven and that we have a way to heaven. That its all ok now.

Lately I've started to wonder if those around me are simply content to worship the gift and the God who gave it without really opening it up and receiving the fullness of what God has given to us thorough Jesus ...

yes our amazing God paid the way for us to be forgiven, justified and redeemed, He certainly opened the gates of heaven for all that believed, He is certainly the amazing creator that made the fish of the sea, the birds of the air and all of that wonderful creation we love to play in.

But what if He wants us to open the box, and receive here and now a realtionship with Him where we are loved, healed, where we are able to work through all the junk and be free to truley love each other ...not "love on" each other, not fake it, not desire each other to meet our needs for love, but to love each other as Jesus loves us.  To be truly transformed into the image of Christ as his followers.... what if the trials and the hurts of this world, the anger that nice Christians, actually all nice people,  push aside and  hide, is our invitation to recognize that we need to talk it over with Him and know His love, His forgiveness and to forgive those that have hurt us both now and in the past.

What if the gift is our invitation to be free to enter more deeply into our relationship with Him.  To praise Him not just for His gift of salvation, but to laugh, rejoice, enjoy and glorify him in all of our lives.

To have the courage to open the box and live in true relationship with Him.'

That heaven is not so much arriving and hoping that we have the right tickets, but getting off the plane and running towards the beloved one that is waiting there for us with open arms in welcome.