Week One: The Gift of Waiting...
[God] says, “I listened to you at the right time, and I helped you on the day of salvation.” Look, now is the right time! Look, now is the day of salvation!
2 Corinthians 6:2
We talk a lot about the gift of salvation during the Advent season. Salvation is a richly nuanced word in both testaments. It means protecting people from evil, trouble, or oppression. It means feeding and clothing people. It refers to God’s action for the individual and for the community--the cosmos, in fact. We see God’s gift of salvation in the past, we see it in the present, and we claim God’s promised gift of salvation--life in the reign of God here on earth--as reality for the future.
Shirley Guthrie, theologian and professor, suggests that, for us, “being saved” is the ability to recognize the work God has done on our behalf, is doing on our behalf, and will do on our behalf. Our recognition doesn’t cause God’s work on our behalf or prevent it. But it allows us to recognize and receive the gift.
When my kids were little, they liked gifts but weren’t skilled at determining the value. They would play more excitedly with the box than the gift itself. As they grew, they learned to recognize the true worth of a gift, worth not based on value or vogue, but on the generosity of the giver and the impact of the gift on their lives.
Living in a faith community helps teach us the worth of God’s gift. It is not a gift we demand. It is not a gift we define. It is not a gift we deserve. The gift of salvation is a gift we are offered through God’s grace. It costs nothing. It is not in vogue. It’s impact is more than we can imagine.
God offers salvation and invites us to participate in saving acts for all creation. As we protect from evil, trouble, or oppression, as we feed and clothe, as we work on behalf of our communities, all communities, God’s salvation draws near, becomes visible.
Past, present, and future gift. Now is the time. Now is the day of salvation!
God, open our eyes to your gift of salvation for us and all your people. Give us the will to share salvation with others, accept salvation for ourselves, and be grateful that Your work of salvation will triumph now and forever. Amen.
We talk a lot about the gift of salvation during the Advent season. Salvation is a richly nuanced word in both testaments. It means protecting people from evil, trouble, or oppression. It means feeding and clothing people. It refers to God’s action for the individual and for the community--the cosmos, in fact. We see God’s gift of salvation in the past, we see it in the present, and we claim God’s promised gift of salvation--life in the reign of God here on earth--as reality for the future.
Shirley Guthrie, theologian and professor, suggests that, for us, “being saved” is the ability to recognize the work God has done on our behalf, is doing on our behalf, and will do on our behalf. Our recognition doesn’t cause God’s work on our behalf or prevent it. But it allows us to recognize and receive the gift.
When my kids were little, they liked gifts but weren’t skilled at determining the value. They would play more excitedly with the box than the gift itself. As they grew, they learned to recognize the true worth of a gift, worth not based on value or vogue, but on the generosity of the giver and the impact of the gift on their lives.
Living in a faith community helps teach us the worth of God’s gift. It is not a gift we demand. It is not a gift we define. It is not a gift we deserve. The gift of salvation is a gift we are offered through God’s grace. It costs nothing. It is not in vogue. It’s impact is more than we can imagine.
God offers salvation and invites us to participate in saving acts for all creation. As we protect from evil, trouble, or oppression, as we feed and clothe, as we work on behalf of our communities, all communities, God’s salvation draws near, becomes visible.
Past, present, and future gift. Now is the time. Now is the day of salvation!
God, open our eyes to your gift of salvation for us and all your people. Give us the will to share salvation with others, accept salvation for ourselves, and be grateful that Your work of salvation will triumph now and forever. Amen.
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