A Tribute of Praise

Sis. Lori Stevens

The hymn In the Sweet By and BY written by Sanford Fillmore Bennett has the following verse:

 To our bountiful Father above 

We will offer our tribute of praise

for the glorious gift of his love 

and the blessings that hallow our days.

Last Sunday as we sang that old hymn I was impressed that we are truly blessed with the greatest gift: Jesus Christ himself. God chose to come in the form of a man to offer himself as the blood sacrifice just to redeem us, his fallen children. He didn't have to do this, he chose to bring redemption because of his love and mercy. He chose this act as a way to show grace and mercy to his creation. The very creation that chose to sin and turn from his holy nature. The very ones that he knew would reject him and crucify him, he still loved and wanted to offer redemption. Such a gift and such a price! I did not deserve it but yet he gave.

2 Corinthians 9:15 says, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." Another version says "indescribable gift!"  The gift of salvation is the greatest gift we can receive. Such a simple message but the greatest gift we can offer.

I think of the woman who brought her alabaster box and broke it over the feet of Jesus. When questioned Jesus said, "wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." (Luke 7:47).  We have been in a place of condemnation, sin and hopelessness. When we find that we can be redeemed and run to the altar in repentance accepting this gift of salvation, our destination is changed, our lives are changed and we are changed from our old life to a new creation. We are given a new hope, new joy, new peace!  We are no longer our own. We are His!!

How grateful this woman was for salvation. I remember when I was first saved and felt that overwhelming joy of being washed clean. The tears of joy fell and my soul rejoiced. It was indescribable. It was amazing. It still is today.  We must remember that first love and maintain it. We do not want to be found in the position of forgetting our first love. The most precious gift of all was salvation. We are to grow from there and become more like Christ. We are to walk in his footsteps and follow after Jesus. We are called to minister, lead and develop our relationship with him.  We are to get into the meat of his word. We don't just sit down and wait.  But in the process, we cannot forget what it means to be saved. We have received a gift beyond any other. We do not want to ever forget that joy. Have you considered where we would be if we had not been given the opportunity of receiving this gift of salvation?  Where would I be?  I would be completely lost and undone. I would be hopeless. I cannot fathom the great loss. I don't even want to consider such a thing. I am beyond thankful for the unspeakable gift of his love. I say "Hallelujah!"  He has been so good to me!! Jesus offered us redemption. I pray we all recognize how precious this gift is. May we take on the call to spread the message of the gospel each day to all who will believe. Jesus Christ came, he died and rose again to save our souls from eternal death. He offers redemption to all who will.  May God be glorified as we all worship him for this ultimate gift.