Freely Given By God

After I landed a high-school job at McDonald's decades ago, I learned things behind the clamshell grill I never learned as a customer.  I was surprised to discover customers could add mayo, lettuce, tomato and the larger onions--or request extra of any topping except cheese--for no additional cost.  It blew my mind to consider every time I previously went to McDonald's I could have ordered a cheeseburger with lettuce and tomato and extra pickles for the same price.  Ordering this way also meant your burger was freshly cooked to order and had not been sitting for an hour under a heat lamp.  My newfound knowledge made a basic burger much better for half the price because of my employee discount.

I remember when a workmate clued me in that In-N-Out Burger in California had a secret menu.  He suggested I should try a Double-Double "Animal Style."  I thought he was playing a prank on me.  I scanned the menu and did not see an Animal Style option, so I refused to make a fool of myself by asking for it!  Much to my surprise, when he ordered two Double-Doubles Animal Style the employee did not hesitate, repeating the order back to him as if it was a matter-of-fact.  From then on I always ordered a Double-Double Animal Style, because I enjoy the extra spread, pickles and caramelised onions.  Even the fries can be ordered Animal Style, but I usually stick to the plain fries.  I highly recommend the yellow chili peppers--another item freely handed out by request only.

Since coming to faith in Christ, I have learned of many things God freely gives that far exceed any offerings available on a secret menu at a restaurant.  This is something the Holy Spirit does for us as Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:12:  "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God."  Even the filling of the Holy Spirit is provided at our request by faith in God as Jesus said in Luke 11:13:  "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"  All the things we freely receive as children of God are most precious because they have ben provided at the cost of Jesus' blood shed for our atonement and redemption.

As we open the Bible and read it, we find throughout its pages exceedingly great and precious promises we never considered remotely possible.  God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours, yet He continues to reveal His works and will to His people through His word.  God who spoke to the prophets also speaks to us through His Son Jesus who created all things, the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us.  God's word is filled with wisdom, guidance, instruction and promises that never would have entered our minds unless God revealed them to us.  As Jeremiah 33:2-3 says, those who fear and trust God are invited to call to God who will answer us and show up great and mighty things we do not know.  If talking about food makes us hungry to eat, may the mention of God's promises freely provided prompt us to seek Him, read His word, and make our requests known to God with thanksgiving.

Knowing "Animal Style" is a legitimate request at In-N-Out Burger, a patron can boldly approach the counter and order with confident expectation to receive his request.  As Christians, knowing we have a Saviour Jesus who lives to intercede on our behalf, we can boldly approach God in prayer as it is written in Hebrews 4:14-16:  "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  The best customer service in the world cannot compare with all that is freely given to us by God.