Gifted In His Word 12-3-2018
We are gifted, have been
gifted and have a gift. God gave us a gift, Christ. He gave us Eternal life
through Him. We know that was the greatest gift, that He laid down His life for
us.
Are you stressing over what
to get for whom this year? Or are you greedily looking for the gifts you want?
For
the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Roman 6:23
We have been gifted with
Christ as our Savior.
He took our sins, and it is
forever ours, if we should so accept it/Him.
Therefore I thought it necessary to
exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift
beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be
ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging
obligation. But this I
say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who
sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his
heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful
giver. And God is able to make all
grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may
have an abundance for every good work. As it is
written:
“He has dispersed
abroad,He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.” 2 Corinthians 9:5-8
The first gift He has
given us is a measure of faith. With the measure of faith we can begin to
believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Once we believe then we are transformed, day
by day. We are changed moment by moment as we grow to become the person that
God wants us to be as we accept His gifts.
We accept the gifts
He gives for His purposes not our own.
You know we often
get a gift for someone for what fun they will have playing with it, or using
it, but often we get a gift, like a tabletop game to be used to gather people
together.
And do not
be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable
and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given
to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more
highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to
each one a measure of faith. For as we
have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same
function… Romans 12:2-4
When God calls us or
gives us spiritual gifts He does not take them back; nor can we send them back
but we must accept that they are ours.
Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake,
but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of
the fathers. For the gifts and the
calling of God are irrevocable. For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained
mercy through their disobedience… Romans 11:28-30
Being obedient to God we accept the
gifts as they come. What are the gifts God grants us?
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren,
I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that[ you were
Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I
make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls
Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the
Holy Spirit.
There are diversities of gifts, but the same
Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same
Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the
same God who works all in all. But the
manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is
given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of
knowledge through the same Spirit, to another
faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by [the
same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to
another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds
of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and
the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one
individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Since we get the Holy Spirit via Jesus when we first believe, we
are given different gifts to be used for the furtherance of the Gospel through
Himl The Holy Spirit is given to us freely, and in this we can freely give God’s
love to others who can also do the same.
At this time of year when we give gifts
for our holidays we need to think about giving gifts that will represent Jesus.
Each of the gifts we get from the Holy Spirit written above are connected with
the life of Christ. Our giving of gifts should be as our receiving them. Christ
is the one gift that feels better getting than giving! Or does it?
Give wisely this year, give with
kindness, work some miracles! Be blessed!
Dear Heavenly Father, help us to give
and receive gifts from You Lord as we receive them help us to use the in our
own gift giving by sharing them with others, through You, in Jesus Name, amen.
Suggested Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-30,
1 Corinthians 13:1-13, 1 Corinthians 14:`-40 and 1 Timothy 4:1-16