John 1:16 For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift]. [AMP]
Buzz Lightyear recently made his debut for our three-year-old grandson’s birthday. His parents had let him watch Toy Story and he knew exactly what to do with this beloved action figure. He held Buzz high up in the air and ran through the house shouting, “To infinity and beyond!”
His unbounded enthusiasm in response to our gift was exactly what we’d hoped for.
At around the same time, I was reading in the first chapter of John about how God extends to us innumerable blessings. The Amplified version states it even more clearly. Spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, gift heaped upon gift. He floods us with blessings not because we work hard to earn them, but he gives out of the superabundance of his grace.
So how does my exuberance over God’s gifts to me compare to my grandson’s fervor over Buzz Lightyear?
I believe every blessing, favor and gift from God is a miracle of his grace. But most of us barely realize the deluge he extends to his children. Mark Batterson writes in A Million Little Miracles that some people say they have never experienced a miracle. Batterson contends we have never not experienced a miracle. We just don’t recognize it. We don’t connect the dots. And we miss seeing how every good thing in our lives comes from a Father who loves us just because of who we are.
Like with our little grandson, Quinn didn’t have to give us ten hugs or sing us as the alphabet song to receive our gift. We just wanted to bless him because of who he is.
Friend, make no mistake. All those blessings in your life are miraculous indicators of a miracle-working God. The more you grab hold of that truth, and the more you express thanks to God, the more your eyes will be able to see the heap of gifts he offers. Gifts he personalizes just for you.
Gifts that truly last forever. Ones that deserve our praise to infinity and beyond.