BIBLE PASSAGE:
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
(2 Corinthians 9:15)
MEDITATION:
Are you the type of person who enjoys receiving gifts? When we
think about gifts, we usually visualize something that is wrapped
with a bow on top. However, gifts can include a loving hug, a visit,
an encouraging word, or even running an errand for someone, just
to name a few.
Whenever a person is feeling down, a ‘gift’ can often lift their spirits.
The same is true when a person is stressed out, or having a bad day.
No matter what kind of gift you offer to someone, it cannot be a gift
to them, unless they receive it.
There are some people who would rather give a gift than to receive
one. They know the joy they can receive themselves when they see
the happiness in someone who received the gift from them. There
are gifts that are given routinely on occasions like on birthdays,
weddings, Christmas, new baby, etc. But when gifts are unexpectedly
given, it is often an expression of a person’s love and appreciation for
someone else.
God has given mankind the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. His gift to
us is only an ‘offering’ until we receive it – then it becomes a ‘gift’.
The gift is available for everyone, but God does not force us to take
His gift, it is a result of His ‘grace’ (giving us what we don’t deserve).
We may have our own ideas about how to receive His gift, but God
explains what we must do to ‘officially’ receive His gift.
We are told that when we have faith that Jesus is Who He says He is,
when we believe He died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected
three days later, and when we want to dedicate our lives to Him and
give Him control of our thoughts, actions, and words, then we have
‘officially’ received His free gift to us.
Additionally, we prove that we have received His gift when we start
living a new life. His gift includes a desire to spend more time with
Him, a desire to talk to Him more (in prayer), a desire to read His
book to us (bible), a desire to worship Him consistently, a desire
to obey His commands, and a desire to serve Him in whatever capacity
He has called us (using the spiritual gift we also received from Him;
it is a bonus that we receive in addition to receiving His first gift).
God knows the happiness we can experience when we receive
His free gift of love to us. It is an expression of love, mercy and
grace from our God, the Creator of the universe. If we refuse His
gift, then we will miss out on the joy of receiving His life changing
gift, but we also miss out on His forgiveness. The greatest and most
devastating sin we can commit is to – refuse God’s gift of love.
Some people gratefully receive His gift and their lives are forever
changed. Others receive His gift and their lives are changed briefly,
but they soon forget the desires included in His gift (prayer, bible
reading, obedience to His commands, worshipping with others
who have received His gift, etc.).
Forgetting His gift will often lead to a life of inner turmoil and cause
doubts about fully receiving God’s gift. Why? Because we fail to have
the desires expected of those who have received His gift, and who have
surrendered their lives to Him.
Some choose to rewrite their own rules and guidelines for being
a recipient of God’s gifts. Rather than allowing God to purge sin
from their lives, they choose to ‘hold on’ to some of them, and have
rationalized or justified in their minds, that it’s okay. We have to
remember that when God calls something unrighteous, what we
do or think, cannot change His mind, guidelines, or any of the
consequences of choosing to disobey Him.
And lastly, some refuse His gift and prefer to remain the way they
are. This may fulfill their selfish desires now, but there is going to
be a ‘payday someday’, when our eternity will be determined by
God, and He will not consider any of our opinions, justifications.
or rationalizations for how we have lived our lives.
God has been very clear about the destiny of mankind. Man has
never, and never will be able, to change what God has ordained.
Just as people are destined to die once, and after that
to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take
away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time,
not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are
waiting for him.
(Hebrews 9:27-28)
ACTION:
Which is the best description of you in regards to God’s gift?
– I received His gift and my life has changed;
He is more important to me than anything.
– I received His gift and some of my life has changed,
however I don’t believe I need to read the Bible, pray,
obey His commands, or worship consistently.
– It sounds like too many changes are required,
so I’ll just refuse His gift, remain the way I am,
and take my chances on His judgment.
Satan wants to convince us that our decision is not really
that important. But, it is not a game where we can make
our own rules; the choice we make is crucial, so we must
choose wisely.
You need to persevere so that when you have done the
will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For,
“In just a little while, He who is coming will come and
will not delay.” And, “But my righteous one will live by
faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”
But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are
destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
(Hebrews 10:36-39)
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then
choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…
(Joshua 24:15a)
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your gift to mankind.
Help me to realize the importance of receiving Your gift
and experiencing the joy it can bring to my life. Forgive
me if I received Your gift, but changed Your guidelines
to fit my own desires. Teach me the importance of having
all the desires included in Your gift as confirmation that I
have fully received Your gift. Remind me that Your gift
includes Your forgiveness, and an eternal life with You
when I receive it.”
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