Expect Nothing

Last updated on: January 24, 2020 at 10:51 am by Matt Pearson

Expect Nothing 2020-01-22T21:53:30-05:00 Matt Pearson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Jesus – Luke 18:17)

This year was the first Christmas one of our children gave gifts to the family. Sure. There have been years we all joyfully (read: faked a big smile) received gifts of “home-made” crafts made during Sunday School (read: glue and glitter all over the backseat of the car) or trinkets found in the back of a closet (read: their sibling’s toys). But this is the first year where actual thought, money, and energy went into it.

It was nice and sad all at the same time. Nice in the fact that the gifts demonstrated evidence of him paying attention to our likes and dislikes. It was obvious he knew us. Seeing him give gifts also made me proud in that I want my children to learn to be givers. That’s a good thing. Like, a really good thing (read: Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive).

But I was also a little bit sad. I don’t want my children to think they have to get me anything. I don’t want my children to EVER look at our relationship as transactional. Me, nor their mother, have ever purchased Christmas or Birthday presents in the hopes that one day they will pay us back or that they would see the gift as a motivation to “do better” so we will love them more. I don’t want our relationship to be one where if I give them a gift, they feel like they need to repay me with a gift.

I think this is why Jesus said that to enter the kingdom we had to receive it. Like, receive as in “like a child.” How does a child receive a gift? With ZERO thought of paying back. A child just takes a gift and plays with it (hopefully). A child intuitively knows that he or she has nothing to bring to the table; so they just – intuitively – take the gift for what it is – A GIFT.

I wonder how many times I “receive” the gift of salvation and turn it into a transaction? I wonder how many times I – without really processing it, think, “I guess I better do something for God today. I mean, He did give me His Son and all.” Or worse, I wonder if I ever go and “do things for God,” in the hopes that He will be on the line and “forced” to pay me back? “God, I did this for you; so, it’s time for you to pony up and pull off your end of the deal.”

Ouch. (Read: I do this all. the. time.)

Being a part of the kingdom of heaven is a gift. A free and constant gift. The gift of a Person.

God never works in transaction. Rather, He always does what He does for relationship. To be with.

Let me encourage – no, urge – you today (as I preach to myself!) to never do things “for” God. Rather, live to be “with” God. Be like a child. Receive, and live.

Biblical Reflections

Devotions

Previous Post

January 23, 2020

Comfort, Confidence, and Great Teeth

Next Post

January 27, 2020 Majoring on the Minors

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Biblical Reflections Devotions Fridays are For Illustrations General Challenge General Preaching Resources Letters to West Franklin Preparing to Preach Table Talk Questions The Preaching Event Top Ten Quotes Uncategorized West Franklin West Franklin Talks

Select a Month March 2023 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 September 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What prophet challenged King Ahab and Queen Jezebel over Naboth's vineyard?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Elisha Nathan Elijah Amos