BIBLE PASSAGE:
The Lord will indeed give what is
good, and our land will yield its harvest.
(Psalm 85:12)
MEDITATION:
Gift giving and receiving can be an interesting event, wouldn’t
you agree? Some people are so happy to receive attention from
others, that they are pleased with any gift they receive.
Some can be very picky about the gifts they receive (even if they
don’t voice their displeasure over a gift they don’t like). They may
remain silent, but they often store the gift away and have plans
to ‘re-gift’ it to someone else later.
There are some who can be very vocal when they don’t like a gift.
There are also those who compare gifts. They might feel they were
treated unfairly if they receive a gift that was not as expensive, or
as nice as the one they gave to the other person.
The truth is, as gift recipients we should be grateful that someone
thought of us and spent time and money to get us a gift of any kind.
There are some who give us an unexpected gift to express how much
they value our friendship. It may be something small, like a card or
a text, or maybe a meal. But whatever it might be, we should know
that they thought of us and wanted to show their appreciation of our
friendship.
Just as there are different types of gift recipients, there are also
different types of gift givers. Some people spend an inordinate
amount of time, thought, and money trying to find the perfect
gift for someone. These are the kind of people who enjoy lifting
the spirits, encouraging and brightening the days of others.
It is painful for them if the recipient doesn’t like the gift they
gave them. They hate it when a recipient is hard to please and
they feel safe in getting them a gift card. As a gift recipient, it
can be disappointing for them if they feel someone didn’t give
them a ‘personalized’ gift. They would prefer an inexpensive
gift that is thoughtful over an expensive gift of any kind.
Then, there are those who spend little time or thought when
getting a gift for someone. To them, gift giving is more of a
task than a pleasure. It doesn’t mean they don’t care about
others, it’s just that they might hate shopping, or feel they are
pressed for time and this is another task to be completed. Due
to their own thought processes, some may not have very high
expectations of the gifts they receive.
Aren’t you glad the Lord only gives us good gifts? He blesses us
with gifts that are for our benefit, even though it might take us
a while before we realize it.
When compared to other countries, America has been blessed with
economic and material prosperity. This is a gift from God that we
should never take for granted. In fact, when we pause and reflect on
the generosity of the Lord, it should stir a desire in us to grow closer
to Him and have a personal relationship with Him (it should cause a
conviction in the ‘lost soul’ to seek salvation from God).
When we take the time to reflect on what God has provided, we should
be humbled, and we should thank Him for the blessings we are enjoying.
We should also thank God for our spiritual blessings (the kind of
blessings that can be difficult for man to find the words to describe).
America has been blessed with bibles everywhere and the freedom
to worship God without threats of punishment, physical harm, or
death. It is something to be embraced and not taken lightly.
Some are very grateful for the gifts received from God and have
responded appropriately (including thanking Him). But there are
others who have refused to accept His gifts and chosen instead to
continue fulfilling their own selfish desires.
ACTION:
We should ask ourselves:
– When it comes to the gifts from God,
what kind of gift receiver am I?
– Have I humbly and gratefully received His gifts?
– Do I have a desire to share His gifts with others,
or keep them to myself?
– How much do I want others to enjoy God’s greatest
gift of salvation?
– How often do I thank God for the gifts He has given me?
– Have I ever taken the time to express my appreciation
for the friendship I enjoy with someone?
– Am I more of a ‘consumer’ than I am a ‘giver’?
– Can I think of a time, or times, when I have made a special
effort to encourage someone who is sick or hurting?
– Do I have a greater appreciation for the gift giver
than the gift itself?
If we truly appreciate and enjoy the gifts God has given us, then
shouldn’t we want to tell others about them? When we share
God’s gifts, we aren’t giving up or diluting anything He has given
us; we still own what we have received; we aren’t giving it away,
we are telling others what is available for them to receive as well.
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for the abundant blessings You
have given me. Thank You for my freedom to worship You and
read my Bible, without fear of persecution. Forgive me if I have
not expressed my thankfulness to You. Teach me how to share
Your gifts with others, so they can enjoy them as they live now,
and can look forward to the greatest blessing of all – spending
an eternity in Your presence!”
BLOG: utvolwoody.wordpress.com
BREAD FOR BELIEVERS 
Discussion
No comments yet.