From The Justification Reader by Thomas Oden
The Gift Requires a Response
Divine pardon is a gift that requires a response. It is a personal gift that must be received by a personal agent.
It is like a costly gift of love that hopes and calls for a response in order that it may be completely given and received.
The benefits of justifying grace can be received only if they are received in trusting responsiveness. Faith's part is simply to acknowledge the rightness of God's act by receiving it trustingly, obediently. Faith praises the Justifier by taking seriously his costly, justifying action.
During this past week, we slowly walked through Ephesians 1: 3-14 and took a look at adoption and inheritance and the great mystery of God's will. On our part, we are invited to trust that it is all true and it is the determining factor for our whole life...now and forever. Trust it. Trusting it means we carry on throughout our lives as though God's gift of life to each of us is the trump card we have in our pocket. No matter what the prevailing winds and words may bring into our lives, there has been a word spoken for us...a word that does not leave us behind...a word that gives us our identity and we need only take on the inheritance and go ahead and see what life is like for those who trust that they are God's beloved. No conditions.
Connection: God is right about us. No matter what else we may hear. God is right about us and pleads with us to take it to the bank. Go ahead, invest you life in it today.
Lord you give us a vision for life that begins with your complete affirmation of our lives and your willingness to give up all things in order to bring us into the life of your blessed reign. To you we give thanks and praise and enter into this day. Amen
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