I have a new hobby: scooter riding. And yes, I realize that I just revealed what an extraordinary dork I am. But I don't care. I love riding my new scooter. It's blue, shiny, has a 50cc engine, and tops out at 40 mph, if I've got a good tailwind. I love the feeling of the wind blowing in my face, the pavement sliding along beneath me, and the bugs pinging off my helmet. I love the fact that it costs me $3.08 to fill up with gas and will ride for a week on one tank. I love the fact that I wear a helmet that resembles something out of the movie "Spaceballs", only slightly larger. I love just riding with no particular destination. I love my hobby.

On a recent ride, I was reflecting on God's kindness to give me such a pleasurable hobby. I don't deserve the joy that I experience when riding my scooter. I don't deserve the feeling of pure pleasure that comes as I cruise around the countryside. My sins merit wrath, furious, holy, unending, miserable, wrath. With my first sin, I forfeited all rights to any pleasure and any joy.

And yet because of the cross, I can enjoy riding my scooter as a gift from my extravagantly generous Father. The cross brings me into a new, beautiful relationship with God, where He is my loving Father and I am His child. Before conversion, I could not enjoy scooter riding (or any other good thing) as a gift from my Father. But now, because the blood of Jesus reconciles me to God, I can enjoy my scooter, and all my other hobbies as precious gifts from a generous God.

What hobbies do you enjoy? Photography? Hiking? Movie watching? Writing? Do you enjoy your hobbies as gifts from the Father? Are you full of gratefulness to our incredibly generous God? He has given us hobbies to enjoy because He deeply love us. As you enjoy your hobby today, take time to thank the glorious God who gives such pleasure.