Most folks opened at least one gift this week, and some of us were blessed with many gifts. Now, people can spend “forever” wrapping presents. They tie the perfect bow and attach a matching name tag. My family gave up on me years ago – if it’s wrapped – it’s good. There are no bows on my packages. They just fall off – right? Anyway, the outward wrapping usually has nothing to do with what’s on the inside. Do you have the “Boxes don’t mean a thing” saying at your house?
This week I’ve been writing the scriptures on Schedule 1:14 on “Gifts.” James tells us that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variable, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) We are so blessed with gifts – like salvation. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8) We are blessed with the gift of wisdom – “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5) We have been given the gift of eternal life – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) “If we give, it shall be given unto us – good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over. . . For with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38) I love that thought – the amount that we’re given is not just “scooped up.” It is pushed down, shaken, and then running over the top. We have more that we ever dreamed! We learn that “if we, being evil know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more does our heavenly Father give good things to them that ask Him?” (Matthew 7:11) He knows our needs before we do.
Yes, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” (II Corinthians 9:15) God Bless, Courtney
AMEN