12.15

God Freely Giving, Man Humbly Receiving "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered
Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? What do you
have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you glory as if
you had not received it? (Romans 8:32 and 1 Corinthians 4:7)"

The Lord rescues and transforms lives by His grace. This plan of God is established upon
Jesus being given as a sacrifice for our sins: "He who did not spare His own Son, but
delivered Him up for us all." This gift of God's Son assures us that God will also give us
with Christ everything we need. "How shall He not with Him also freely give us all
things?" God's giving is to be coupled with man's receiving. As God is freely giving to
man, He wants man to be humbly receiving from Him.

Every blessing that we have was received from God. "What do you have that you did not
receive?" There is no other source from which we can receive true spiritual benefits than
the Lord above. "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven"
(John 3:27). The joy of having Jesus dwelling in our lives became ours by receiving
Christ. "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God"
(John 1:12). The fact that we are now reconciled to God and are no longer His enemies is
based upon receiving the gift of reconciliation. "We also rejoice in God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation" (Romans 5:11). The
privilege of serving the Lord in ministry is a gift of grace to be received: "the ministry
which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts
20:24). Another blessing we received from the Lord is the spiritual gifting that enables
us in our ministries. "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another" (1
Peter 4:10).

From initial salvation to growth and service, all that is needed must be received from the
Lord. This is an encouraging reality. Yet, it is also a humbling truth. It leaves no room
for us to glory in ourselves. "Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you glory as if
you had not received it?"

"Dear Lord, I confess that every blessing I have ever received was given by You from
above. I bow humbly before You, admitting that I do not deserve even one of Your
innumerable benefits. Lord, I praise You for freely giving to me. I want to humbly receive
from You day by day, in Your gracious name, Amen."