Londons Café Rendezvous has nice lighting, comfortable couches, and the smell of coffee in the air. What it doesnt have are prices. Originally started as a business by a local church, the café was transformed a year after it started. The managers felt that God was calling them to do something radicalmake everything on the menu free. Today you can order a coffee, cake, or sandwich without cost. There isnt even a donation jar. Its all a gift.
I asked the manager why they were so generous. Were just trying to treat people the way God treats us, he said. God gives to us whether we thank him or not. Hes generous to us beyond our imaginations.
Jesus died to rescue us from our sins and reconcile us with God. He rose from the grave and is alive now. Because of this, every wrong thing weve done can be forgiven, and we can have new life today (Eph. 2:15). And one of the most amazing things about this is that it is all free. We cant buy the new life Jesus offers. We cant even donate toward the cost (vv. 89). Its all a gift.
As the folks at Café Rendezvous serve their cakes and coffees, they give people a glimpse of Gods generosity. You and I are offered eternal life for free because Jesus has paid the bill.
INSIGHT
What does the phrase dead in your sins mean? (Eph. 2:1). Dead means lifeless, powerless, inanimate. It means we were incapable of doing anything to change our situation. Sin refers to our rebellion against God. Humanity instinctively rejects God, and this rebellion is expressed through words, deeds, and attitudes.
The spiritually dead have no relationship with God. To be spiritually dead means we are completely cut off from Him and unable to reach out to Him. We cannot fix the things weve done that offended Him. We cant apologize to God for rebelling against Him, for pretending He doesnt exist, and for living as though we are God.
Any solution to our deadness must come from somewhere other than us. Through Jesus God took action to bring our spiritually dead hearts to life and restore us to a right relationship with Him. What amazing grace!
Adapted from Grace: Accepting Gods Gift to You by Constantine Campbell. Read more at discoveryseries.org/q0613.