Since arriving here in Japan I have been completely overwhelmed; overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of the Japanese people. We have received free living accommodations, free groceries, free meals, and more free groceries. Every single time we are lost and stop to ask a Japanese person for directions, they refuse to only point us in the direction of our destination: instead they personally escort us there. Over and over again, the beautiful people of this beautiful country have dropped everything they are doing to help us; the confused, loud Americans.
I spent quite some time thinking about how we could ever repay them, both the strangers and the new, dear friends alike. The only response our pastor gave us was "Please pray for my country." I've begun to realize that all of these gifts, the kindness, the sacrifices people have made for us cannot be repaid. I can never justify their giving with my giving back. And in fact, that's not what they want from us. They aren't showing us generosity just to receive ours in return.
But God is doing something really cool in my heart with all of this. He is using my new friends to mirror the generosity He has shown me. By sending his son to come to this earth and pay the penalty for my sins, that is death, the Lord has shown more generosity than I could ever even dream of repaying. And he isn't asking me to repay him. No amount of good works or deeds, no amount of bible reading or prayer will ever be enough to repay what Jesus did on the cross. But it doesn't even end there. Then God sent us the Counselor, the Helper, the very presence of himself: the Holy Spirit, to dwell within the hearts of those who follow him. The sacrifice, the blessings, the gifts from God are never-ending. We simply cannot repay him. Much like the Japanese people, I believe that the Father wants us to rest in those blessings- to find comfort and joy in his gifts to us. He wants to escort us from lost to found.
So today, enjoy the Lord! Soak up the presence of his Spirit and rejoice, because it is so beautiful. It is only through the grace of God that we are presentedthese gifts. But through that grace I find an abundance of motivation to love and serve those around me, just like the Lord has done and continues to do daily for his children.
Love,
Kara
