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Free and Valuable

6/28/2012

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There are certain mornings each week that I go walking and praying. I spend time praying for my family, our church and the community. Praying, while walking keeps me alert and often opens up Spirit directed focuses of prayer. Exercise is a side benefit of my prayer walks.

During the walk this morning, I came across a unique display. At the curbside just a few feet away from the homeowner’s mailbox was a weatherproof box atop a post a little higher than the mailbox height.  It was about two feet wide and a foot deep with a clear door on the front. It contained about a dozen books and had a sign that read, “Little Free Library”.

I admired the creativity of this homeowner making books available for free or exchange to anyone and promoting literacy. I discovered that Little Free Library is an organization whose mission is to promote the love of reading (learn more at http://www.littlefreelibrary.org/index.html).

Oftentimes free items at the curbside are one step away from the landfill; free junk. Floral couches, used carpet, and broken exercise bikes are relics left at the curbside with a sign that reads “FREE” with hopes that someone can make use of them someway, somehow. The “Free Library” made me appreciate this person or family for offering something valuable for free.

God offers a free gift that is not junk, but is valuable beyond belief. It is better than walking by a brand new car at the curbside with a sign that says, “FREE”. It is better than a reality sign on a million dollar home on beautiful lakeshore property that has an acrylic box with all the information about this home. You see photos highlighting all the amenities and when you look at the listing price it says, “FREE”. God has even better.

The free gift offered by God is a forever relationship with Him, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Great “I Am”, Creator of the universe and Lover of your soul! How much would you pay for this relationship? But wait, there is more! Not Ginsu knives or an amazing vegetable peeler. God will take away your guilt and shame. He will fill you with His Holy Spirit when you ask Him. God will adopt you into His family and share His inheritance with you.

Romans 6:23 (NLT)
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Titus 3:4-7 (NIV) But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Romans 8:15 (NLT) So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”


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    Mark Radeke

    Husband of one, father of five, pastor and friend of many.

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