The Rejected Gift

Continuing on this gift theme for the holidays - a gift is not a gift unless it is accepted. We learned last few weeks that a gift is eagerly anticipated and a gift must be valued. Why would a gift not be accepted?

A friend of ours related a story of the "you've been gifted" cards. As many in this area know, we have these cards that our church uses to blanket the area with 10,000 seemingly random acts of generosity. The stories are incredible. So our friend was at a gas station and he happened to have a free tank of gas to give away. He purposes in his heart to give that tank of gas to the next person he saw filling up his/her tank. A woman pulled up (in a mini-van no less) and he approached her and offered to pay for her gas. She gave a curt reply of "NO".  Our friend reiterated to her that there are no strings attached, it was totally free.  This went on for three or four times with no explanation as to why she was turning down this gift. He finally gave up. 

A gift cannot be a gift unless it is accepted. People sometimes grudgingly accept gifts, but deep down they may resent the giver. I remember my parents and in-laws as very generous people whom were always giving us things particularly when we were first married. I accepted the gifts but in some weird way I harbored bitterness. There were no strings, no expectation of return. Just pure and simple gift because they loved us. Our sinful nature wants no part of that which is freely given. Second, gifts are hard because in the flesh, we want to earn something. Maybe the woman at the gas station felt that way. Why is this guy gifting me gas - I can afford to pay for it myself?

God's gift of indescribable value is rejected by many because it is not earned and therefore is hard to accept. God paid an incredible price for it and to reject it is the ultimate slap in the face. Our friend was hurt that the woman rejected his gift, but it didn't cost him anything.  Our rejection of God's gift grieves him. What is God's gift?  It is His only Son, Jesus Christ judged and abandoned at the cross. It fully paid for a debt we could not pay - the price of our sins. 

This Christmas, will you reject a gift that is so costly yet so freely given?  I pray you will accept this gift from God with a fully appreciative heart.