The Beauty Is the Gift Given

Good afternoon. Good afternoon. With all the talk of the NOAA movie and all the rain we had this last week, I was kind of curious if we were going to have an arc in the parking lot when I came up the hill. It wasn't there if anybody missed it, but yeah. What a wonderful day! The sun is out. We have supposed to be a nice day tomorrow with more sunshine. After Wednesday, I think it was, or Wednesday or Thursday, when we had the rain all day, I have an office cube, or window cube, and it was just all day long and did nothing but rain. And I haven't seen a day where there's hardly any breaks in a while. But we need the rain. Maybe I heard it's going to be a bad allergy season because of all the rain, but God gives us what we need, and that's a beautiful blessing. Sometimes in life, we have a hard time accepting gifts. Who doesn't like receiving gifts, though, you might say? And of course, I do enjoy receiving gifts. Everybody, or most of us, do. But sometimes I find myself having a hard time... Can you hear me? Sounds really okay. Sometimes I find myself having a hard time accepting gifts from others. It could be a small gift at times, or it could be a large gift. Normally, it's when somebody puts a lot of their own effort, or their time, or their money into a gift. The greater that amount is, the harder time I do sometimes have a hard time accepting it. As I begin this message today, I'd like to share life experience with you, one that I kind of came to mind with an experience of my own recently. If you like titles, the title of this message is, The Beauty is in the Gift Given. A couple months ago, I took on a task of replacing my car exhaust from the engine all the way back to the muffler. I've done some car repairs in the past, so this was something I felt I could handle. But a little ways into it, I got into an issue, and I needed to phone a friend. I was able to find a friend that does some car repairs himself, gave him a call, and he was able to give me some ideas. I said, well, you know what? Actually, I'm in the area with my family. We're running errands. I'll come over and give you a quick hand, or I'll look at it and see what we can do. I said, well, I appreciate it. He came over. We looked at it for a bit. He gave me some pointers, and I thanked him. He went on his way, and I continued on with the project.

About an hour and a half later, I ran into something else, and I said, well, I'll give him a call again. Maybe he can give me another pointer. So I give him a call. He says he's still in the area with his family.

They're still running errands. He'll swing back by. I didn't need him. I was feeling bad. I was like, no, it's okay. He goes, no, we're still in the area. I'll come back by. So I appreciate it again. A few minutes later, he was there. He's looking at the project, and we're talking some things over. He asks me a funny question.

He goes, can you give me a ride home? I said, puzzled in a way, sure, I can give you a ride home, but everybody's still here. He goes, well, I'm going to stay and help you finish this up. No, that's too much. You're out with your family on a Sunday.

We had the Sabbath. This is one of the one days of the week that we get to do errands and do things with our family. It's just too much. But he said he likes working on these type of projects. They're fun for him, and there was not really any talk in him out. So he stayed. He went and said, Mike's going to give me a ride home. Him and I continued to work on this project. After a couple of hours, we got to the point where I could pretty much finish it up on my own. So I ran him home, took him home, and on the way, he was expressing my gratitude and my appreciation.

Because I really appreciated it. Maybe he saw that I was in over my head. Maybe it was out of pity that he wanted to stay and help me out. But he did it, and it really meant a lot to me that he was willing to do something like that. So I drive home, and I'm talking with Laura, and I'm expressing just how much I appreciated that. And I said, I want to get him a gift card. I want to get him something that just means so much for what he did.

And anybody who knows Laura, she's not one to shy away from giving gifts or showing appreciation, but she asked me a question. She said, why do you feel you need to give him something? It kind of took me back. I'm like, are you kidding? He gave up part of his Sunday for me to help me with the project that wasn't even his.

Will sent his family home, running errands or whatever they were doing. For me, this is huge! It's a really big deal. And she said, but he offered to help you. That was something he wanted to do. He wouldn't want anything back. And of course, he doesn't want anything back. That was something he gave me. I recognize that. But still, I need to do this.

And she said, when you've helped other people out before, you haven't expected a gift in return. Why do you feel, she asked me this, why do you feel you need to give him something? What is inside is making you feel this way. It led onto a further discussion.

We talked more about this. And I never really realized about why I feel at times the need to reciprocate a gift to someone. But by always reciprocating, I end up diminishing the beauty that is in the gift given. Why is it that sometimes we have problems accepting gifts? And before we dive into to answer this, let's first look at the reasons why we do give gifts. I know there are a few rare examples of people who do not enjoy giving a gift. But for the majority of people, we do enjoy giving gifts to others. It's part of who we are. It's part of our nature.

It leaves a special feeling in our heart when we can give a gift, not expecting anything in return to someone. It's a blessing from God also when we have opportunities to give gifts. Acts 20, verse 35 reads, And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he said it is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20, verse 35. This isn't just the nature of adults. Many children, our children have the same feelings that they want to give gifts. It's a special part of being a human. I ran across an interesting article on CNN.com that referenced a university study on children and on giving. It's from September 17th of 2012.

It's titled, For Kids, It's Better to Give Than to Receive. The article starts out talking about, as a society, as parents, as grandparents, are we giving too much to children freely? Just giving them one thing after the other that they either don't work for or they don't have in life. And so they take this approach, are we giving too much? And the story, to break into the context a little bit, it says, But are the cash, toys, clothes, and foamy pretend coffees making our children happy?

Probably not. According to a recent study by psychologists at the University of British Columbia, young children are happier to give than to receive. In the study, toddlers who were asked to give away their own treats, as well as extra treats, showed greater happiness about sharing their own possessions, suggesting that the act of personal sacrifice was emotionally rewarding. It goes on to say, While the children in the study were giving away a personal belonging, their goldfish crackers, the study's principle rests more generally on pro-social spending.

It says, Lead author Laura Aichnan, assistant professor of psychology at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia. The joy of helping others, says Aichnan, is an inherent part of human nature. The joy of helping others, and this is a scientific study, but their conclusion was it's an inherent part of human nature.

Many times, there's also a feeling of empathy that goes along with the gift-giver. They see a person, they see a need, they have a desire to help that person. And so, they put themselves into their shoes and think about what would I want or what would I need at this time. And so, they want to give a gift many times out of empathy to help a person out.

Let's turn to Philippians 2, verse 3, on this idea of empathy and of giving to others. Philippians 2, we'll read verses 3 and 4. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. That's empathy. When you see somebody going through a difficulty, and you're not worried about your interests, you're worried about theirs. Why are they going through a difficult situation? Why do they have a need?

Or sometimes gifts just come because you want to do something nice for people. Those are special as well. But we see, as we look out for other people's interests, we will find these times when we have opportunities to give, and that empathy comes out. So we know that usually when someone gives a gift, it's because they want to. Gifts are given by others freely, so why do we sometimes have hard times accepting gifts from others?

There are several different reasons, and the reasons aren't unique to my story. Many of us would have many more reasons or ideas why some people have a hard time receiving gifts. But let's look at a few. My daughter, Kelsey, has a Christian book titled God and Me Too.

That's the number two at the end. So God and Me Too. And that's by Linda Washington and Jeanette Dahl. The story in the book identifies some of the feelings people may have when receiving gifts, and I want to share the story. The story is titled The Gift. Madison Gordon burst into the house, her face glowing with excitement.

Look what Mr. Wheeler just gave us, Dad, she said as she placed a handful of cash on the table where her father sat reading the newspaper. Sixty dollars, her father replied, his eyebrows raised. He said he wanted to help us since, well, since you lost your job last week. Her father frowned, then snapped the paper to another page. Take the bunny back. We're not doing that bad. But Dad, her father interrupted, we just can't accept charity. We don't need it. We'll be fine. And he handed the money to Madison. Madison didn't understand why they couldn't accept the money.

The story goes on to end well. The father accepts the money and sees that it was something they needed. It was a gift. But let's think about what the father said for a moment, why he didn't want to accept the gift. What inner characteristics or emotions may have caused the father to say what he did. Maybe he was too proud or self-reliant to receive money from someone.

Maybe he felt guilty, inadequate, or unworthy. Let's look more closely at these characteristics and emotions since we can also experience one or more of these same feelings or emotions ourselves. First, let's think about pride or self-reliance. Sometimes pride or self-reliance can get in the way of receiving a gift. We may arrogantly think, why did they think I needed a gift? I work hard. I have a good job. Or I can take care of myself.

Self-reliance can also make receiving a gift difficult. We may think, I don't need handouts from others. I have everything covered on my own. We sometimes forget that everything that we have, everything that's in this world, is a blessing from God. He belongs to him. And when we receive these blessings from others, these are blessings that God is allowing to come into our life.

Someone reaching out to us in our time of need is a huge blessing. We have to watch out for secret inner thoughts of pride or self-reliance, which could cause us to reject gifts or end up us feeling like we have to reciprocate. We have to give something back in return. James 4, verse 10, and I'll just read it. James 4, verse 10 says, Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Humility has to come along with receiving a gift. We have to allow... or that gift just stays where it's at. It doesn't come into our hearts. We have to work on being humble in order to receive a gift. Let's also look at Luke 18.

To understand the humility aspect a little deeper. Luke 18.

This is the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. Luke 18, verse 9. Also, he spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others.

They were thinking, I've got my life together. I've got things handled. Let's just see where this goes. Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. And the Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself. God, I thank you that I'm not like the other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I've got a job. I've got things going well in my life. I don't need handouts from others. I've got this covered. Let's go on. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I possess. And notice the I. I have this and I do this. I, I, I. And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other, for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Humility does play a huge part in receiving a gift. It, it just does. When somebody is giving something of their heart, a humble attitude in ourselves, when we push pride out of the way, when we push self-reliance, like, look what I'm taking care of, look what I've got, we can receive that gift with a humble heart.

Another area. Second, let's think about guilt, inadequacy, or unworthiness that could keep us from receiving a gift from another person. Have you ever felt guilty receiving a gift? Maybe the person that's giving the gift is really given a lot. Maybe they're giving money that they really don't have to spend. Or they're giving time that's away from their family, and it's just too much. That's too much. I can't accept this gift. I don't deserve it, and I can't do it. It's just too much. But the fact is, the person who's given the gift isn't given a gift hoping that we feel guilty.

They're just not giving that gift hoping that we feel guilty. And in fact, if we do take on guilt, or we do feel bad, that's actually going to end up making them sad. Because nobody gives gifts looking at, oh, here you go, now feel bad. That's not people's points. So if we're expressing that guilt, where's that guilt coming from? Where's that inadequacy coming from? Because it's coming from someplace, and it's not coming from the gift or the gift giver.

Sometimes people have generous hearts and want to give generously. And when these gifts come our way, we need to open our hearts and receive them freely. I've heard it said before, a closed hand cannot give a gift, and a closed hand cannot receive a gift.

It goes both ways. That hand has to be open when we receive a gift from someone.

What if God sends a gift or a blessing your way? Do you ever think, I don't deserve this blessing. I'm not worthy of receiving it?

We can deal with feelings of unworthiness or inadequacy, whether a gift comes from a fellow human being or from God.

Both are something to watch out for, so we don't find ourselves rejecting gifts or blessings sent our way. When God gives us a gift or a blessing, there is something important to remind ourselves of. The fact that He sent us a blessing is not about Him. I'm sorry. The fact that He sent a blessing is not about us or our worthiness or our unworthiness. It's simply for us, from Him, our generous and loving Father. James 1, verse 17, reads, That's James 1, verse 17. God is worthy of all praise and glory, so when He sends a blessing our way and we feel unworthy, let's turn our focus to Him in praise and thanksgiving. There's a third way we can reject gifts from others. Keeping score. Keeping score. Do we ever get caught up in the idea that, oh, I was invited over to someone's house, we now have to invite them over to our house. Whew! We're even again. That was a close one. Or, I received a gift from somebody, or they gave of their time. We've got to make sure we get something else back to them. Great. I feel better now. Everything is good again in the world. Someone gives us a gift, and we immediately raise our gift-deflecting shield, and we bounce it right back to them. Do we ever do that? Or do we feel we need to? One point for them, one point for me. We're doing good. We're doing good.

Shouldn't a real thank you be enough? How would we feel if every time we gave a gift, they gave one back to us? If a gift is somehow repaid, then it's not really a gift. What is the definition of the word gift? From dictionary.reference.com, something given voluntarily without payment in return. Something given voluntarily without payment in return. So we have reviewed a small sampling of some of the ways we can reject a gift, and I'm sure, like I said before, there's many ways that we can think of others in our own lives. Let's watch out for pride or self-reliance, guilt or inadequacy or unworthiness, or score-keeping when it comes to receiving gifts in our lives, so we do not miss out on the beauty in the gift that is given.

So why is this topic important today, as we approach Passover just one week from tomorrow?

This is a very special time of the year when we have a chance to reflect on the most amazing gift any of us have ever received. This is a truly free gift, one that we did not earn and could never, ever possibly pay back.

When it comes to the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior in our place, do we sometimes experience the same characteristics that we just went through here just a minute ago? Do we ever experience pride or self-reliance or score-keeping by getting caught up trying to earn Christ's sacrifice through works, or being a good Christian? Do we ever think we can somehow repay this gift?

Do we ever allow guilt, inadequacy, and unworthiness to keep us from fully embracing the completeness of what Christ gave for us, thinking His sacrifice was just too much? That's just too much for me.

We need to set our focus on Him and His worthiness, not on ourselves and our unworthiness.

Let's look at Revelation 4 on this topic of worthiness. Let's look at Revelation 4.

We'll look at verse 11, and then we'll continue reading through 5. This is Revelation 4, verse 11.

And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll or to look at it.

And He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, who is Jesus Christ, each having a harp and a golden bowl full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You are slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

Jesus Christ is worthy. That's the fact. We're not. That's the other fact.

God the Father gave the world His Son, and Jesus Christ laid down His life for all. Both did this so the world may have an opportunity for eternal life.

So let's look at five important aspects of this gift of Jesus Christ.

Five aspects of the gift of Jesus Christ. The first aspect is God gave His Son. Let's turn to John 3, 16, for this first point, that God gave His Son.

It's a very familiar verse, especially if you're a baseball fan.

John 3, 16.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Let's flip forward to Romans 8, 32 on the same idea, the same concept. Romans 8, 32.

And we're going to kind of go through some of these scriptures kind of a faster procession than I normally do. It's one that maybe we can take some of these and look at them if you want to in the next week or so, as we have some time, if you want to look into this further.

We're going to go through some of these scriptures kind of quickly. Romans 8, 32.

The first point, God gave His Son. God gave His Son.

Let's look at the second area to look at as we look at the gifts of Jesus Christ.

The second point is, Christ gave of Himself by willingly surrendering to His Father's will.

Christ gave of Himself by willingly surrendering to His Father's will. That is in Matthew 26, verse 39. Matthew 26, verse 39. This is when Christ is praying in the garden before His arrest and the trial and ultimately giving His wife. Christ was human. He felt pain. He felt hungry. He knows what it was like to skip a meal. Through pain, He knows what it's like to stub a toe.

And He's evaluating what's about to be asked of Him. He knows what He's going to go through. And it hurts, as if any of us would be going through it.

Matthew 26, verse 39. He went a little further and fell on His face and prayed, O my Father, if it is possible that this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.

He willingly surrendered to the Father's will. And we can read this further in Hebrews 9, verse 11.

Hebrews 9, verse 11. And we'll read through 14.

Let's look at the third point of the gift of Jesus Christ.

Let's turn to 1 John 3, 16.

1 John 3, 16.

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us, and we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

And if we flip back to John, verse 10.

John 10, verse 17. On the same idea of Christ laid down His wife for all.

Therefore my Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself.

I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again, this command I have received from my Father.

Jesus Christ had the power to lay down His life. He gave His life willingly for us.

And let's turn forward just to John 15.

John 15, verse 13. We know that Christ said that those who follow His command and follow His teachings, that they are His friends.

John 15, verse 13. Greater love has no one than this to lay down one's wife for His friends.

We are His friends when we follow what He taught and what He continues to teach to us today through His Word.

These are all the ways, some of the ways, that Christ laid down His life for all.

Let's look at another gift, another aspect of the gift of Jesus Christ.

Christ gave up His position as Godhead. Christ gave up His position as Godhead.

And this is in Philippians 2.

2, verse 5.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

That's a gift to us, to humanity.

And the last gift that I'd like to look at is number 5.

Christ is our sacrifice.

Christ is our sacrifice.

Let's look in 1 Corinthians 5, verse 7.

I know this is a rapid move through all these Scriptures. I recognize that.

But I want to kind of outline the gift that we have received and the Scripture that supports these gifts.

This gift.

1 Corinthians 5, verse 7.

Therefore purge out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleaven, for indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. God understands, as we look through and think about the gift of Jesus Christ, God understands and has empathy for the struggles and difficulties we do experience in this life.

As we read in Hebrews 4, verse 15, Christ was tempted in all things, the same things that we have in this world.

And that Jesus was tempted in all things, and that Jesus was tempted in all things, as we are the same things that we have in this world.

And Hebrews 4, 15 reads, For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted, as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus Christ lived a physical life on this earth. He understands what it's like for you and I to live a physical life on this earth.

His empathy towards us, He wanted to give His life, so you and I, and the whole world, would have an opportunity for eternal life with God the Father and with Himself.

When we really look at all that was given for our sake, it can seem too much for our feeble human minds. It really can. But God doesn't think in human terms, and His love for humanity is so great.

We can't fathom the depth of God's love for all of His creation. We don't deserve God's gift of His Son, but it was still freely given to each and every one of us. Let's embrace the beauty of the gift that we have been given.

Let's turn to 1 Timothy 1, verse 15.

1 Timothy 1, verse 15.

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, who I am chief. This is Paul speaking to Timothy in a letter, acknowledging that the weight of sin He placed on Jesus Christ.

We've all done that. We've all fallen short. And this life, this life that was given for our sake, it's a gift. It's a beautiful, huge gift.

And let's flip forward, or I'm sorry, Romans 5, 6. You tell me where we're going. Romans 5. It's actually backwards. Romans 5.

I'm all over the place today. Romans 5, verse 6.

I'm going to read through 8.

And then, in sin.

Recently, someone posted something on Facebook, an article. And I'd like to share it with this concept of the gift of Jesus Christ. It was posted on April 3rd of this year. And the author is Andrea Gardner. It's titled, and this is from the Huffington Post, it's titled, To the Woman Behind Me in Line at the Grocery Store.

Dear Woman, behind me in the line at the grocery store, you don't know me. You have no clue what my life has been like since October 1st, 2013. You have no clue that my family has gone through the wringer. You have no clue that we have faced unbelievable hardship. You have no clue we have been humiliated, humbled, destitute. You have no clue I cried more days than not, that I fight against bitterness, taking control of my heart. You have no clue that my husband's pride was shattered. You have no clue their innocence was... You have no clue my kids have had the worries of an adult on their shoulders. You have no clue their innocence was snatched from them for no good reason. You know none of this. What you do know is I tried to buy my... You have to excuse me if I get a little emotional. What you do know is I tried to buy my kids some food and that the EBT machine was down so I couldn't buy that food. I didn't have any cash or my debit card with me. I only had my snap card. All you heard was me saying, no, don't hold it for me. My kids are hungry now and I have no other ways of paying for this. You didn't judge me. You didn't snarl. Maybe you should have less kids. You didn't say that. You didn't say, well, get a job and learn to support yourself. You didn't look away in embarrassment or shame for me. You didn't make any assumptions at all.

What you did was you paid that $17.38 grocery bill for us. You gave my kids bananas, yogurt, apple juice, cheese sticks, and a peach iced tea for me, a rare treat and splurge.

You let me hug you and promise through my tears that I will pay this forward. I will pay someone's grocery bill for them. That $17.38 may not have been a lot for you, but it was priceless to us. In the car, my kids couldn't stop gushing about you. They prayed for you. They prayed you would be blessed. You restored some of our lost faith. One simple and small action changed our lives. You've probably forgotten about us by now, but we haven't forgotten about you. You will forever be part of us, even though we don't even know your name.

It's difficult for me to read this because I put myself in her shoes.

There's been times where we've been at a loss. We've been at our extreme.

And somebody stepped in that gap to help us out. And when we're thinking about this gift of Jesus Christ, spiritually, we've all stood. And we can't pay that price. We want it. We want these items. We want eternal life. We don't have the money. Yet who stepped in and rescued us from that moment? Who stepped in and paid?

That's a gift. That's a gift.

We are not asked to come into this Passover service with guilt or feelings of inadequacy. We're not. We should approach Passover with a strong sense of peace and with joy, realizing we have received a free gift, one given to us because we needed it. Because this gift is free, there should be no guilt to feeling like, how can I pay this back? Or this is too much for me to receive with the sins I'm still battling in my life. This is too much. I can't take it. We're not asked to approach Passover with this mindset. Now is the time to focus on the amazing gift that we've been given to us from the love of God. He has allowed us freedom from the weight of sin that we may have an opportunity for a relationship with Him, our elder brother, and the rest of our brothers and sisters in Christ. So as we enter Passover this year, and as we think about Christ and His sacrifice, as we think about the ways we strive to look more like the image of Christ, let me leave you with three things we can do to accept this gift. Number one, be thankful. Be thankful. As with any gift we receive, we should offer proper thanks to the gift giver. We would be amiss if we enter Passover without on our knees in prayer to God, thanking Him for the amazing gift of Jesus Christ. We need to express to God what Christ's sacrifice means to us personally. We can also thank Him for the freeing of the death penalty of sin and giving His Holy Spirit so that we can have power over sin in our own lives.

There is so much that we can express to God, and thanks. The second thing we can do, use this gift to propel you forward. Use this gift of Christ's sacrifice to propel you forward. As with any gift we receive, it's given to us to use, to enjoy. Continue to use the gift of Christ's sacrifice to propel you forward. Continue growing and becoming more like Christ. Through the Holy Spirit working inside you. Overcome challenges. Overcome things that you've been working on in your life.

As you've spent more time in studying and prayer leading into Passover, keep it up. Keep doing it. Don't go maybe back to where you were before or allowing life to creep in. Keep it up. Let this gift of Jesus Christ propel you forward to keep moving forward. When you apply Jesus Christ in your life, your life changes. There is no doubt.

Use Christ's sacrifice to continue propelling you forward. And the third thing we can do to accept this free gift is to serve others. Christ did not come to this earth to be served, but to serve. That's in Matthew 20, verse 28.

We have the same mandate to serve our fellow man. We have been given the liberty that comes with Christ's sacrifice.

Galatians 5, verse 1, and I'll read it. Galatians 5, 1, Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

We are all free.

As we accept his sacrifice in our lives, we have true liberty. Freedom from the death penalty of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

So let's not allow ourselves to be entangled again in sin, but use our freedom to pass along the love of God to our fellow man. Pass it along.

Our words, our time, our blessings, pass them along.

All that we have been given can be utilized. It can be used for other people. It can be used in service. It can be used in thoughts.

And how do we know we are Christ's disciples when we show love for one another?

John 13, 35.

So as we conclude, let's be thankful.

Let's be thankful.

Let's use the gifts of Christ's sacrifice to propel us forward, forward momentum.

And let's serve others. Let's reach out. Pass on the gift that we were given, that freedom, that weight lifted off our shoulders. And now it's going to do things. It's going to do great things.

As we prepare for the Passover, let us not forget the beauty is in the gift given.

Have a wonderful Passover.