JUST CATCH THE BALL

The gospel is simple, and sometimes the best way to see it is through the picture of a football field. No wide receiver watches the ball arc through the air and wonders, What am I supposed to do with that? It is not his job to throw the ball—only to receive it. His task is simple: hold out his hands and catch what has been freely given. The quarterback does the passing; the receiver trusts, extends, and receives.

The Bible speaks of salvation in the same way. Paul calls it “the free gift of God” (Romans 6:23), and John tells us that Christ came so that “whoever receives Him” may become a child of God (John 1:12). The language is simple because the grace is simple. God has already accomplished the work—Christ lived the righteous life we could not live, died the atoning death we deserved, and rose in triumph on the third day—and now the gospel is placed within reach. It is not thrown as a frantic Hail Mary; it is tossed gently, placed perfectly, lobbed in a way that even a child could catch it.

The trouble is not that the gospel is too complex, but that the human heart often makes it so. We try to run extra routes, add our own fancy footwork, or insist that receiving must somehow involve contribution. But salvation is not something we manufacture; it is something we receive, humbly and openly, as an undeserved gift. Christ has already paid the price, already secured the victory, already crossed the goal line. Our calling is to stretch out our hands in faith—to believe, to trust, to accept the grace that has been offered.

So do not overthink what God has made simple. Do not imagine that Christ’s invitation is for someone more worthy, someone more prepared, someone more spiritual. The gospel is for you. The ball is in the air. The Savior has already thrown it with perfect accuracy and perfect love. All that remains is the simplest act of faith—open your hands; receive Christ; catch the gift that has been sent to you. There is nothing complicated about receiving Him. Just do it.

BDD