When we think of giving gifts on Christmas, we usually think about giving gifts to other people. Sometimes we'll even think of picking something special that we wouldn't normally do for Jesus for His birthday. But have you ever thought about what gifts God gives us at Christmas (and all year round too)? Christmas is really all about God's Gift to us, His Son in the form of a baby to eventually be the Sacrifice for our sin so that, if we accept the Gift, we can have His righteousness. But there are many more gifts that God gives us in addition to that. James 1:17 talks about God's gifts: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." Let's get on with what some of those good and perfect gifts are. 1) Eternal LifeThis is by far the best Gift that God has ever given to mankind or that you could ever receive! It's the most important decision you'll ever make. How amazing that God would even care to save us after, having created us for Him, we chose sin and continually choose it every day! That He would take on all of our sin in exchange for His righteousness! And that we don't have to do anything but believe, repent of our sin, and accept Jesus as our Savior! If you haven't made this decision or if you aren't exactly sure what all it's even about check out the Becoming a Daughter page for an explanation. Most of these other blessings are only for those who have accepted Him as their Savior. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." ~John 10:27-28 2) JoyWhile others go about their lives with sorrow and darkness, we as Christians have joy. Joy from God Himself. It's not just happiness, a fleeting feeling of satisfaction. But it's an everlasting joy that, even in hard times, kindles brightly. "The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish." ~Proverbs 10:28 "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." ~Psalm 16:11 3) StrengthNo matter how strong we think we are, in reality, we can't do anything on our own. God gives us the breath that keeps us alive. It's easy to think of God's strength as something that we need during hard or challenging times, but it's something that we need every single moment of our day. One interesting thing to note though is that, not only does strength come from God, but God is our Strength. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." ~Philippians 4:13 "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." ~Isaiah 40:29-31 "The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments." ~Habakkuk 3:19 4) PeaceKnowing and believing that there is someone greater than you Who loves you and will take care of everything brings peace. Knowing that you are in a right standing with God and will be in Heaven with Him brings peace. Being able to go to our Heavenly Father about everything brings peace. God didn't make us to carry all of the stress that we so often do. He made us to enjoy the perfect peace that He has for us as His children. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." ~John 14:27 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 4:6-7 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." ~Isaiah 26:3 5) FavorGod gives us favor. He loves everyone, shown by His death and resurrection for us, but the Bible talks about God taking a special interest in His children. It's amazing that we can be favored by God. Not only has He redeemed us, but He wants and delights in having a special relationship with us. "For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield." ~Psalm 5:12 "The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy." ~Psalm 147:11 6) PurposeAlot of young people today seem to struggle with depression. Even if it's not what they would identify as depression, they find themselves wondering if they really matter and what they're even here for. The teachings of evolution only compound this problem. But as daughters of the King, we have a purpose. We have the most amazing purpose given to us by God Himself. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." ~1 Peter 2:9-10 7) WisdomWith the God of the universe being our Heavenly Father, whom we are told to approach boldly, why should we find ourselves not knowing what to do or what to think about something? He wants to give us His wisdom, but we get it by asking Him for it and reading His Word. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." ~James 1:5-6 "For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." ~Proverbs 2:6 8) LifeWe wouldn't be able to enjoy any of these blessings if it weren't for this one. God created us in His image so that we could have fellowship and a relationship with Him. But He didn't stop with giving us life; when we ask Him to be our Savior and then we continue to thrive in Him, we find that He's given us abundant life. "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." ~Genesis 2:7 "The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life." ~Job 33:4 9) CreationBefore God even made man, He made the world and everything in it for us to live with and have dominion over. Now it's a constant reminder to us of God's glory, beauty, creativity, majesty, and still others of His traits. "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." ~Genesis 1:28 "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." ~Psalm 19:1 "And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:" ~Hebrews 1:10 10) Our circumstancesWhether our circumstances are good or bad in our understanding, they are what God has given us, and He only gives us what's best for us, even if it doesn't seem like what's best to us. Even the trials of our lives are used to ultimately bring good and satisfaction. "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." ~James 1:2-4 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." ~Romans 8:28 "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness of heart through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:" ~1 Peter 1:6-7 11) The bestAs touched on in the last point, God only gives us what's best. We can trust Him with our lives, hearts, minds, and souls because He loves us. He never uses His wisdom against us, but instead He uses it to understand us better than we understand ourselves and to give us exactly what we need, even if we don't recognize it. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." ~Jeremiah 29:11 "It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places." ~Psalm 18:32-33 Can you think of any other gifts that God gives us?
2 Comments
William Piburn
12/28/2022 09:02:03 pm
Sophia, I enjoyed this, excellent!
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