“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God..” ( 2 Cor 3:5).
There is a Baganda saying, “Yesu amala!” which loosely translates : “Christ is sufficient!” It’s a very important point which perhaps one may wish to expand on. When we receive Christ as our personal Lord and Savior he forgives all our sins. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” ( I John 1:9). Jesus does not firgive some sins and still hold to others but forgives us freely. Upon accepting Christ we become children of God truly forgiven through his blood which purchased our freedom.
Now in the time of Apostle Paul- and even as of now; it remains common to find those who think that their salvation in Christ was never sufficient, and must labour some more to receive or experience salvation. Beyond the cross; they add on other qualifications, of their choice. Paul did respond to these: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” ( Ephesians 2:8-9).
For the unconviced the list of “works” can range from a selection of donations to self denials of choice items. One may exert himself mercilessly in a certain task to merit grace. Because of this some people live their Christian lives, fearfully, never assured of their salvation. The cross was perhaps not enough! Yet the Lord is saying, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” ( Romans 8:1).
When Jesus died on the cross he took all our sins away. Friend, today, if you are troubled rest assured and be comforted by his word that once you received Christ your salvation was a done deal no one can take away. And more importantly, there is nothing more you can do to equal what happaned on the cross. “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” ( John 19:28-30).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, it is by grace that we have been saved and not by works, and may I live and rejoice in the comfort of that knowledge to fully experience salvation, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
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08/05/2024 - 09/05/2024 All day“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
The culture of sharing gifts runs through scriptures and is at the heart of the Gospel. Upon realizing that Jesus Christ had been born the three wise main did not just go empty handed. “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Mathew 2:11).
When Jacob decided to return to his country, he went with gifts to soften the heart of his twin brother Esau, whom he had left maddened at him for various wrongs. “Then he selected these gifts from his possessions to present to his brother, Esau: 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 30 female camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys” ( Genesis 32: 13-15). The reason was, Jacob thought, “I will try to appease him by sending gifts ahead of me. When I see him in person, perhaps he will be friendly to me.” So the gifts were sent on ahead, while Jacob himself spent that night in the camp” (vv 2—21).
Esau was already a wealthy man and had no need of the gifts presented. But Jacob pleaded with him. “Please take this gift I have brought you, for God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau finally accepted the gift” (Genesis 33: 11). This symbol of good touched Esau, brightened his heart, burying the old acrimonious relation.
Taking after these two instances believers should be in the habit of sharing gifts. We should visit each other not empty handed but like the wise men with gifts, not so much that those we are gifting are lacking, but as a way of blessing them. Proverbs 11:25-26, says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
Most importantly we bless each other with gifts because we have received the most important gift there is in life, the gift of salvation. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I thank you for the most precious gift of all that you gave me of eternal life through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and so I pray that I may not hesitate to share this gift and bless those with as much whom you enable me to meet, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
