Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/215736
Mimicking God DIEUMÉME NOELLISTE, LLD PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGICAL ETHICS sending of Christ into the by the to human nature, share the human Thegive to humanity. That gift forworldsupremeFathertheassumeofrace is the greatestincontrovertible experience, and suffer death the redemption of human gift God could ever is the demonstration God's love, the proof of his commitment to our wellbeing, and the most convincing evidence that He will always be on our side. When we ponder this extravagant display of God's benevolent grace, we cannot but feel a powerful sentiment of gratitude swelling up in our breast—a sentiment which compels us to exclaim with the apostle Paul: "Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!" And it is perfectly right and proper that we should feel this way. But how do we move beyond mere feeling to a concrete expression of our grateful response to God for His marvelous gift? "THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HIS INEXPRESSIBLE GIFT." (2 COR. 9:15, ESV) I have a hunch that the mere reading of this question evokes several responses in our hearts and minds. Perhaps the question prompts some of us to resolve to follow the lead of the angelic choir at Jesus's birth and offer to God the most spectacular praise. Perhaps others of us will take our cue from the shepherds and begin a robust evangelistic effort to tell as many persons as possible about the amazing gift from God that we've received. Others may be moved to borrow a page from the worship book of the Magi and resolve to offer to God the most reverent and costliest adoration possible this yuletide. These are all marvelous and fitting ways to express our gratitude to God. But in Paul's outburst of thanksgiving, we find yet another tangible and powerful expression of our grateful response to God. It is the emulation of God's lavish generosity toward us by displaying a similar grace to those in need. Paul's exclamation forms the conclusion of his pastoral appeal to the Corinthian believers to come to the aid of their financially distressed brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. To drive his message home, he could find no more powerful incentive to Christian liberality than the recognition of the grace that God had shown them in Christ and the obligation to emulate Him by extending such kindness to others. Such divinely prompted generosity not only gives concrete expression to our gratitude, it can also generate in the hearts of those we bless sentiments of gratitude and praise toward God. Let's mimic God in our generosity this Christmas! DENVER SEMINARY CHRISTMAS 2013 02 DECEMBER 7