Blessed by a 'free lunch'

We have all heard or used the saying “there is no such thing as a free lunch”.Is this really true?This week I met up with a friend from St Philips for lunch. We decided to go to a local café in Cottesloe and when we arrived the friendly staff recommended that we try their famous wagu beef burger. We both ordered the burger and sat down with a coffee for a chat while we waited for our lunch to arrive.The service was quick and friendly. We were about to bite into the burgers when my friend took a closer look at his lunch and discovered that there was a missing ingredient to the wagu beef burger. It was the beef burger itself! To my surprise my meal was also devoid of the beef burger. We both found this hilarious.We took our lunches back to the staff and informed them of the missing beef. They were very apologetic and may I add embarrassed. They quickly refunded the cost of the burgers. My friend tried to give them back the money but they would not take it. Within a few minutes we were eating our wagu beef burgers for free. This was indeed a free lunch!When we think of our faith in God does the saying “There is no such thing as a free lunch” apply? Let me phrase it another way. Do we live out our faith as a free gift that has been given to us? Or do we continue to live as though we need to pay God back for what He has done for us? I understand the gift of grace that comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus but I often continue to default into the role of doing good works and think I have paid God back so He will now accept me. My identity is often wrapped up in what I do as a minister and not as a child of God who is loved unconditionally.God’s grace is free but not cheap. We know we are loved unconditionally because of His work through His death and resurrection. There are no strings attached. God wants us now to live life to the full and be empowered by His Holy Spirit to rejoice in doing good works and take part in His kingdom coming. What a privilege it is to serve the King.It has not always been an easy journey getting here, but this Sunday the 27th of January I will be commissioned as the associate minister at St Philips. As I reflect on this journey I am continually amazed at God’s grace, His “free lunch” by bringing me here to work in His church with His people.My family and I feel honoured and excited to be able to share in the blessings with you of this “free lunch” that He has given us.BlessingsJames Duff