Dear Reader, the closer I come to understanding God's love for me the more I realize that everything I have is a gift from Him. There is not one good thing in this life that I have "achieved" or bought through my own toiling. All that I have that is good, whether it be tangible or of another realm, is from God. The only thing I've accomplished through my own work is fear, emptiness, sin, and confusion… those things are not "things" at all… they are the lack of Something. Fear is the lack of faith. Sin and emptiness is the lack of God. Confusion is the lack of vision. See, God gives us all that has substance. God is our Sustainer and our Provider. Sometimes in defeat we say with our shoulders shrugged and our eyebrows peaked, "He gives and takes away…" (Job 1:21). But, I think differently… I think God only gives. If something is "taken" from us, it is only because it has been replaced by what God gives us. Sin can't really be taken away because it is nothing… sin is the lack of God. That is why sin is described as darkness; darkness is nothingness; it is the lack of light. When He enters into our lives, He gives us substance. He gives us light. He gives us all we need.
Remember, God gave his one and only son.
I think sometimes as Believers we forget about what God has given us. We walk around confused and ashamed. We carry our fear as if we don't have the living God inside of us whose perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). I have recently been intrigued with the idea that God has given and will continue to give us everything that we need to face any struggle. I don't know about you, Reader, but I don't walk in that everyday. I want this entry to be a reminder to you and to me that God did not give us anything that is bad… On the contrary, He gave us all things that are good. His precious blood was spilt on the cross so that we could inherit the glory of God.
Check this out:
"For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
from those who do what is right.
O Lord of Heaven's Armies,
what joy for those who trust in you."
-Psalm 84:11-12
"So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him."
-Matthew 7:11
"And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself and having given them right standing, he gave them his glory."
- Romans 8: 3
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."
- 2 Timothy 1:7
The important part of all this is not the reading of these verses… the important part is walking in it. Reader, don't simply read these passages and continue in fear. God gave us everything that we need. I have several more verses written down that I could've listed in this entry, but I'm not going to. The Bible is full of information about the gifts that God has given and will continue to give us. As you read God's word and continue through your day, look for those good things that God gave you. Look for those gifts and promises that you are ignoring. We should never be afraid… we should never fall into parasitic sin. God gave us better things than that. He gave us the spirit of adoption (Rom. 8:15). His gifts are infinitely better than anything the world gives us. Walk in it!
