Much of our daily lives are lived as transactions. We expect to get something when we give something, whether it is a particular experience or product from a purchase, compensation from our work, a return based on our investments, or giving of a service in order to be recognized. These are only fair expectations, right? I give, therefore I ought to get. Well for the apostle Paul, he can't make sense of how it is that God does not work the same way. It would appear the Jews in Rome who have rejected Christ--who have given no credence to the new life promised in Jesus--would not receive God's blessing. But Paul proclaims that God proclaims otherwise: "...for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." (11:29) God's gracious love revealed on the cross of Christ is freely given. It is a reverse transaction. But with Paul we cry out, "But that's not fair!" However it turns out that both the free gift and the call to be God's beloved can never be revoked. God's transaction with us is one way, from God to us. Perhaps one way we can embody God's freely given blessing is to bless others the way God blesses us: freely.
When was the last time you received a freely given blessing? How did it free you to bless others without any expectations of receiving anything in return?
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