Read: Psalm 116:1-19
A young man is walking along the sidewalk texting on his phone, and steps off the curb to cross the busy street in front of him. A bystander runs forward and pulls him back just as a honking semi truck speeds by, barely missing a fatal collision. The rescuer tells the young man that his life was just saved. Without emotion, he says, “Oh,” grabs his wallet, and hands a twenty dollar bill to the man who saved his life before turning to walk away.
It’s not hard to notice a disconnect in this scenario. If my life had been saved, my natural reaction would include intense appreciation among other emotions. If I saved someone’s life and they handed me a twenty dollar bill and left without even a “thank you,” that money would seem a little silly given the circumstance.
Jesus has done more than save us. He’s given us a reason to live. We still, however, react like the young man from the story. Instead of being overcome with gratitude, we try and give God something that might clear us of the debt we feel we owe. In Psalm 116:12, David asks, “How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me?” He goes on to list several answers, but it is clear the only thing God desires from us is our hearts. There is nothing we can give God that He can’t create on His own. What He wants is for us to be receptive of His saving grace. When we begin receiving His grace with open hearts, we stop treating God like a stranger to whom we owe a debt and start living like His children, eager to do His will and fully accepting of His free love.
Reflect:
- How are you able to best express your appreciation towards someone who has done something great for you?
- How can you arrange time for yourself to focus solely on expressing your appreciation to Jesus for what He’s done for you?