But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (Ephesians 2:4-5)

Read: Isaiah 41:17-43:13, Ephesians 2:1-22, Psalm 67:1-7, Proverbs 23:29-35

Relate: Sometimes I imagine the day it will happen. I’ll be sitting at my desk typing away, or perhaps I’ll be reading some book while all sprawled out on the couch. Maybe I’ll be in the kitchen slaving away over a hot microwave getting ready for dinner. Wherever I am, the doorbell will ring. My mind will run through the possibilities. Did I leave something somewhere and it is being returned? Am I expecting company? Is the ups guy here with more books?

I’ll walk to that front door a little hesitant, turn the lock, and open up. There they are. It is the publishers clearing house prize patrol with one of those ridiculously big checks. My name is written in ink and there is a crazy wonderful sum that I will be getting every week for the rest of my short life. It happened to Michael Miller earlier this year and, by faith, I’m next.

React: Life-changing as I might think winning all that money would be, but it really isn’t. It wouldn’t make my worries go away, it would just give me different things to worry about. It wouldn’t change my quality of life, it would only raise my standard of living. It might get me more stuff but it wouldn’t make we one bit happier. No amount of money can ever have an effect on my eternal destiny.

There is a gift offered to me that is far more valuable than winning any monetary prize. There is a moment that can come far more dramatically than the ringing of that bell. There is a door that when opened will change my fate far more than any prize patrol ever could. That door is the one to my heart and when I am willing to open it, the king of glory can come and take residence in my heart. This is a gift that God longs desperately to give to each and every one of us. Are you willing to accept it?

Respond:

Dear God,
I open up the door of my heart to You. You have offered a gift of life that would simply ridiculously foolish to refuse. I recognize that I am, on my own merits, completely unworthy of any favor of any type. I’m a sinner. I’m a wretch. But for some reason, You have chosen to shower Your love on me anyways. I accept this undeserved gift. Let it change me to become more and more like You.
Amen