When our children were little, we began a tradition of passing out the gifts, after Dave had read the Christmas story from Luke 2.
The kids would work together taking presents from under the tree and passing them to their intended recipients. Once all the gifts were distributed, the youngest family member got to open the first present. Then each one of us would open a present, all the time observing the succession of youngest to oldest. And we still do that today.
Even in our leanest years financially there would be more than one gift for them to open. There were gifts!
That was the scene that filled my mind this morning. The gifts.
“God does not change His mind when He chooses men and gives them His gifts. 32 God has said that all men have broken His Law. But He will show loving-kindness on all of them.’ Romans 11:29 & 32 NLV
God has given us His gifts and He doesn’t change His mind. What a thought! It would be cruel to promise a gift and then withhold it. God doesn’t do that.
“Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have seen well, for I am watching to see that My Word is completed.’” Jeremiah 1:12 NLV
“For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will look for Me and find Me, when you look for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLV
I didn’t title this morning’s blog “The Gifts of God” but instead “The Gift of God”, for a reason. Our heavenly Father has many gifts waiting for us – forgiveness, joy, peace, grace, strength, His abiding presence but the many gifts come through “The Gift of God”, Jesus.
“Men become right with God by putting their trust in Jesus Christ. God will accept men if they come this way. All men are the same to God. 23 For all men have sinned and have missed the shining-greatness of God. 24 Anyone can be made right with God by the free gift of His loving-favor. It is Jesus Christ Who bought them with His blood and made them free from their sins.” Romans 3:22-24 NLV
Once we receive the gift of His Son and our forgiveness of sins we are reconciled to God; adopted by Him and become heirs of His promises.
“The yes to all of God’s promises is in Christ. And that is why we say “Amen” through Christ to the glory of God. 21 And God is the one who makes you and us strong in Christ. God is also the one who chose us for his work” II Corinthians 1:20-21 ERV
It’s time to open our hearts to the gift of God, to His Son, Jesus!