FREELY GIVEN!

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By Dorothy Richards

Once again we are 'travelling' through Lent to Easter and, as we have perhaps 'given things up for Lent', we have had the opportunity to meditate more on what Jesus did for us at the Cross.  A while ago God gave me a picture of a sponge and, as I watched, the sponge soaked up the pool of dirty water it was in the middle of.  Eventually, all the dirt and grime was gone.

The next thing to happen was that the sponge was then squeezed until it was completely dry.  What came out was clean, clear water.

I felt God was saying to me that this is what Jesus did for us when He went to the Cross.  He loves us so much that He endured the pain, the humiliation of our dirty, soiled lives.  What was poured out on that wooden Cross was pure grace and forgiveness.

It was only necessary for Jesus to die once for us but, as we continue to fail in our lives, we still nail Him to that Cross.  Despite all this, He still pours out His love on us. The amazing thing is that none of it is dependent on anything we do, or don't do.  Jesus loves us anyway.  The only thing He asks us to do is to reach out and receive.  It is a gift!

‘So freely, flows the endless love You give to me.
So freely, not dependent on my part,
As I am reaching out, reveal the love within Your heart.
Completely, that’s the way You give Your love to me.
Completely, not dependent on my part,
As I am reaching out, reveal the love within Your heart.
So easy, I receive the love You give to me.
So easy, not dependent on my part,
Flowing out to me
The love within Your heart.’    

(Dave Bilbrough.  Copyright © 1983 Thankyou Music/MCPS)