2 Corinthians 9:15 – Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
THEME OF THE DAY: THE PRIVILEGES OF BEING A CHRISTIAN. Today’s scripture immediately draws our hearts and minds to the gift of God in His Son, the Lord Jesus. In this gift from the Father, we are blessed with all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3). We also receive precious promises (2 Corinthians 1:20). Yes, everything we are and have are through the gift of our Lord Jesus. With that truth, let’s expand our understanding and application of this gift we have in Christ under the idea of “privileges.” I am convinced if we would think more along the lines of the privileges of being a Christian, we would be more joyful, more spiritually consistent, and more spiritually influential in our worlds. We also wouldn’t be quick to take God’s grace and gifts for granted. So . . . here we go with four privileges God gives us through Christ; His inexpressible gift.
First, being a Christian is a privilege from God, not a right we are owed or something we may gain. Salvation is all of the Lord. He chose us before the foundation of the world not based on anything good in us or from us. He chose us because He chose us out and that out of His love and sovereign choice (Ephesians 1:3-14). Look around the world and see we are in the minority. That doesn’t make us boastful or arrogant. It makes us humble and grateful to the God who privileged us to be in His family. Start seeing salvation as a privilege and watch how thankful our hearts become.
Next, God gives us the privilege to read our Bibles. Trace through history the bloodshed, persecution, and sacrifice people made so we may have our Bibles. Right now, hold your Bible in your hand, then cradle it to your chest, and consider the awesome privilege to be able to do those things. Start seeing the Bible as God’s gift and privilege to us and we won’t neglect reading and studying it.
A third privilege God gives us as Christians is prayer. In its simplest form, prayer is the language of love to our God. It is our means to share our heart and lives with the One who loves us so much, He was willing to die so we could pray. Stop for a moment. Think on the cross. See Jesus suffering and go beyond His death for our sins. Ask God to show us that Jesus’ death opened the lines of communication with Him. Prayer is one of the greatest privileges we have as Christians. Through prayer, God is inviting us to the most profound experience a human will ever have; knowing God. Start thinking of prayer as a privilege to know God, and we won’t let it become inconsistent or lifeless, full of vain repetitions.
Finally, God bestows the awesome privilege of attending a local church. Friends, church and the Lord’s Day should not be something we “have to” out of habit or duty. Church and the Lord’s Day are things and observances we are privileged to do. God gave His Son to form the church so that we may both be the church and “go” to church to practice life-on-life relationships with other believers. Start seeing Sundays and church as privileges to enjoy and Sundays will become spiritual delights we long for, not extension of the weekend which we compromise, or boring routines we endure.
The privileges of being a Christian. There are so many and all of them because of God’s amazing gift of His Son. And like physical gifts we share with loved ones, this one cannot be earned or bought, only received with a glad and thankful heart. Let’s start living the privileged life of a Christian with our Bibles, prayer and church. It will make all the difference in our joy and delight in the Lord.
PRAYER: “Father, forgive me for the too many times I take for granted Your amazing grace gifts in my life.”
QUOTE: “Start thinking of everything in your Christian life as privileges and watch how you will grow in Christ”