The Greatest Gift

Many of us are busy this time of the year searching for gifts. If you’re like me, it can’t be just any gift, it has to be the perfect one, made just for the person I’m giving it to. Shopping is one of my favorite things to do and I love buying and giving gifts to those I love….so you know I love Christmas. I make my lists early and start wracking my brain to come up with ideas for gifts that won’t only please but perhaps really mean something to its recipient.
As I was checking my list again, I was reminded that: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variation, neither shadow of turning.” James 1: 17. I thought on this for a bit. He offers the same gift to all with no variation or shadow of turning….and it’s the perfect gift, made just for us.
Matthew 7: 11 asks the question: “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
Earlier in Matthew we are told if we bring our gifts to the altar, then we remember that our brother has been hurt by something we did or said, we should leave the gift there and go settle things with our brother. The gift of forgiveness…. one of the greatest gifts one can give or receive. More important than any gifts we can ever buy.
Faith is another great gift we are given from above, along with His grace. Eph. 2: 21…”For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
In Romans 12: 6, it speaks of the different gifts we are given according to His grace such as the gifts to prophecy, teaching and ministering, exhorting, giving, (it’s a gift too) ruling and showing mercy. 1 Cor. 14: 1 tells us to “follow after charity (love) and desire spiritual gifts.”
Many gifts we give and will receive this Christmas will be stored away and never used, passed along to others or soon forgotten. The gifts we receive from God are to be used, not set on a shelf to gather dust. They are personal gifts chosen by Him especially for us to use and enjoy….and to share with others. Some of us may have some gifts we have yet to open, some we didn’t even know we had until we look. Any talent or ability we pocess is a gift from God and we should be using them to bring Glory to Him.
1 Tim. 1: 6 tells us to “stir up the gift of God, which is in thee.” 7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
So as we go about our shopping this year lets keep in mind and be thankful for the gifts God has given us….the greatest gift of all being His Son, who gave His life for us. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6: 23.