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Have you ever received something for nothing? Ever had the person in front of you pay for your petrol or hot drink, or had someone offer to mow your lawn or bring food to your house? It feels a little uncomfortable at first doesn’t it? It is so odd and so unexpected that we often find ourselves trying to figure out what the catch is.rnrnHave you ever been the giver of such unexpected kindness? What was the response of the receiver? We have heard stories of people who tried to do something nice for a stranger, only to have the stranger refuse the offer. Why do we do that? Why is it so uncomfortable to accept a gift from the gift giver? And is it any different to the way we respond to God?rnrnCS Lewis once identified grace as the thing that sets Christianity apart from all the other religions in the world. Christianity uniquely claims that God’s love comes first and is free of charge, no strings attached. Quite simply, this means that we don’t have to do anything to receive God’s love and attention other than accepting it. Sound too good to be true? Well, that’s why it’s called the Gospel (Good News, NOT good advice).rnrnGrab your bible and settle in as we explore just a few bible verses that highlight this Good News.rnrnIt is God’s initiative to save us – “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour” Colossians 1:21. rnrn“…While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8.rnrnHe changes our attitude towards him – “…when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his son” Romans 5:10.rnrnHe reveals himself to us – “...since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them” Romans 1:19.rnrnHe draws us to Himself – “…when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself” John 12:32.rnrn“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…” John 6:44.rnrnHe encourages repentance in us – “God’s kindness leads you toward repentance” Romans 2:4.rnrnHe forgives our sins – “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more” Isaiah 43:25.rnrnHe encourages us to pray – “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express” Romans 8:26.rnrnHe produces the desire for righteousness in us – “…for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” Philippians 2:13.rnrnHe produces divine love in us – “We love because he first loved us” 1 John 4:19.rnrnHe leads us to, and guides us in, all the truth – “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth” John 16:13.rnrnHe enables us to live righteous lives – “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people” Hebrews 8:10.rnrnHe wraps these gifts nicely and brings them to your door. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in…” Revelation 3:20.rnrnIn these texts, God tells us that we are saved, forgiven and reconciled to Him. He says he will draw us to Him, intercede for us, work in us and produce a love in our hearts for others. He even promises to guide us towards truth and encourage repentance and the desire for righteousness in us! What a God! What Good News!rnrnThese beautiful promises are summed up by the words of Hosea:rnrn“I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them” Hosea 11:4.rnrnWe live in a world that is very transaction based. If you hand over the cash, you will receive the object or service you paid for. If you treat someone with kindness you might well get friendship in return. Perhaps this highlights the issue we sometimes come across with God. Even if we grasp all that he has done for us, it’s easy to slip into transaction mode. Easy to think we must do more or work more in order to complete the transaction. This is good advice, not The Good News (Gospel) and it is not what our God is wanting from us.rnrnThis kind of love is difficult for us to understand. It flies in the face of our transactional society. It goes against the ‘what’s in it for me’ attitude born of our sinful nature. Yet this is the very essence of the Gospel! What a sweet melody to the weak and weary, the broken and proud, the Martha’s, the Jew and Gentile alike. It’s not about us. It’s about God and all that he already did through the precious gift of Jesus. Baby Jesus- wrapped and lying in a manger. Jesus the healer- touching hearts and changing lives. Jesus the teacher- bringing the scriptures to life for all people. Jesus- sweating blood in the garden of gethsemane, weeping for humanity and then dying the death we deserved. Jesus- quietly lying in the tomb.rnrnJesus! Crucified, risen, victorious; all for you! What a beautiful and profound message.rnrnThe Gospel is calling each one of us deeper. How will we respond?