April 5, 2010
View our weekly devotional archives

ACCEPTING GOD'S LOVE
Do you have a receiving problem?

“We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.”
1 Cor. 2:12

I love to give…encouraging words, fishing or hunting gear, a special gift, and even my time serving others. I especially love giving anonymously to folks in real need. I’ve found a lot of joy in giving, but I’ve struggled with receiving.

It was difficult for us to go into ministry, as Louise and I are far more comfortable being the “givers” rather than the “receivers”.  As the Apostle Paul noted, ministry is often about receiving so others can be blessed and rewarded. Phil 4:17

For most of my life I’ve had a hard time accepting compliments. Just saying, “Thank you,” seemed vain. If a friend paid for lunch, I protested, making a mental note to reciprocate. When offered meals during tough times, I’d hesitate. I didn’t want anyone to go to that trouble. Plain and simple: I’ve had a hard time receiving love. I’ve been surrounded with loving people, especially a loving wife, but felt unworthy, doubting their sincerity or skeptical of their motives. 

I was very much like “Doubting Thomas”. When the disciples brought him the good news about Jesus, he was skeptical.  In fact he was emphatic; he simply would not receive it: “Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.’” John 20:24-25.

Like Thomas, I was afraid to trust, afraid to hope, afraid to receive the love that was offered to me. It was easier to doubt the “good news” than accept it and risk finding out that it was conditional or phony. I think maybe that’s why a lot of people don’t want to accept God’s free gift of love.  Somehow we know we’re unworthy—there must be some catch—and we don’t want to get burned.  We go about life longing to be loved and feel special, looking for something or someone to trust. Yet it is there all along. There is a risk in receiving freely—no strings attached, no reciprocating —but it’s the only way God will have it.  He will not let us earn His gift. By very definition, grace is free and undeserved.

Mercifully, Jesus didn’t leave Thomas in his unbelief.  He pursued him and revealed Himself: “A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’” John 20:26-27.

And God has revealed His love to me. I see it all around me…and I welcome it! In fact, ever since I’ve been “practicing receiving”, God has been pouring out His love in extravagant ways.  I mean in fantastic, unimaginable ways. It’s as if He’s saying, “Oh, and you think that’s cool, watch this!” A couple of years ago a loving couple asked Louise and me to go on a Bill Gaither Cruise to Alaska.  We couldn’t believe it.  No one has ever blessed us that way. And it felt like God saying, “Reach out your hand… Stop doubting and believe.” 

Every time we think, “We couldn’t possibly accept this. It can’t be real…what in the world did we ever do to deserve this?” We remember, “Nothing. This is from my Heavenly Father who loves me immeasurably!” and we say, “Thank you.”

The Power of Truth:

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matt. 7:11

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Eph. 2:8

Suggestion for Prayer:

Ask God to help you see all that He has given you…and receive it.