A gift is never dependent
On the recipient of the gift,
It is actually given in spite of
If you catch my drift.
It is surely not a reward
Since a reward is achieved
But one cannot achieve a gift
Whatever one believes.
It cannot be an award
For such is given on merit
And an award as we all know
Is premised upon habit.
Not so a gift, my friend,
It’s definitely not an award
And since it is without merit
It cannot be a reward.
Without merit it must be,
Just like the grace of God,
It can’t be bought or worked for
Or delivered by a fraud.
No worth in the recipient
Other than the whosoever,
Whosoever believes in Christ
Will share in his treasure.
By the recipient’s faith
And through God’ grace,
Without merit I must emphasize
Or even the pride of place.
It is not the who we are
But rather, the “whose”,
Not even the prudish or the pious
Like a “goody two shoes”.
The prerequisite is love
As in “For God so loved”
That He gave the gift of His Son
Who came from above.
A commendation of love
When we were unlovable
And when we were vile and sinful,
To make us His people.
A people for Himself
With whom He now dwells,
No merit in any one of them
Thus, the Bible tells.
This we must not forget:
There is no merit in us
But all we tantamount to be
Is found in Christ Jesus.
Without merit I repeat,
And none can make a claim
Unless of course the claim we make
Is in Jesus’ name.
Without Merit
Stewart Russell © January 18, 2025
