Gift is an attractive noun and verb that has become the focal point of the season we are presently in. There is much giving and receiving of gifts. We give gifts to the ones we love and appreciate and receive from those who love us. Some gifts can leave the recipient either happy or sad and may even result in a return or that gift being put away in a far corner where it is never seen or used. We are in the season of giving, but as we give out our gifts and receive at the same time, let us think about the greatest Gift that was given to the entire world.
One Gift was given to the world with love and unlike the gifts that we give only to those who love us and were kind to us throughout the year, this Gift was given to each and every one of us on earth by someone we didn’t know and didn’t care to know. The scriptures tell us that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16 KJV). What is much more striking is that this love for us, the world, was not motivated by our love and appreciation for God. The Bible tells us “God commended His love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners (haters of God, did not want to retain God in our thoughts) Christ died for us (the ungodly) (KJV).
We received this precious gift that we did not qualify for, that transforms our lives for eternity and not for a season. Jesus Christ is the Gift in totality and not in partiality. We may receive a gift that fits into only one part of our lives, like a shoe to walk in, a purse for whenever we go out, or a pant or toy that will either fade or be destroyed in time. However, this Gift Jesus Christ is everlasting to everlasting and never fades or wanes.
Many years ago, I recall my mom had bought me a lovely white flat shoe. I so loved that shoe that it didn’t matter what attire I had on, I wore that shoe. But I wore it down until it lost its beauty and started to disintegrate with cracks, but I still wore that shoe. One day I went into the city to visit my sister and when she looked at my feet, the first thing she said, was “Jacque what is the matter with your shoe?” I replied, “I know, it has to go but I so love this shoe.” I eventually had to stop wearing it to go out and began wearing it around the house until it ended up in the garbage. My love for that shoe could not keep it from wear and tear.
Jesus our Gift will never suffer from wear and tear however long we embrace Him and call upon Him in our lives. He will not dissolve into nothingness the more we love Him but He becomes more real, He reciprocates our love for Him, and a relationship is actually developed between us the more we respond to His love for us and call on Him.
How long have you received this Gift, Christ Jesus? How long have you been loving Him and He you? Has He become useless, irrelevant, or worthless to you over time, or has the fire of love and desire for Him burned greater and deeper in your heart and life? Has He become the only gift that you can and are willing to share with others and not feel deprived, abandoned, or overlooked? For me, the answer is no, never and never will.
Our wish for you in this season of receiving and giving of gifts is that you receive Jesus Christ the greatest Gift to the world and that you hold fast to Him for all eternity. He meets not only one area of our lives but every area of our life. He is the gift that causes us to triumph and overcome. The Gift that comforts, provides, helps, and is right there with us when we are alone. It is this Gift that although we may be alone, we do not feel lonely. I wanted my shoe to last me a very long time but it didn’t irrespective of how often I cleaned it and took care of it, Jesus our Gift promises to never leave us or forsake us but to be with us always. In this season we offer you Jesus the Best Gift of the world. Would you receive Him and cherish Him today?
Even as our Heavenly Father gave the Gift of Jesus Christ to the world, Jesus the Gift turned around and not only gave Himself to the world, He has given gifts to the Church, which is His Body. The Gifts keep Giving. The Apostle Paul tells us explicitly in Ephesians 4: 11-16 of the gifts Jesus has given to the church and the reason behind the gifts. He says,
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Clearly, Jesus thought it through and through of the needs of His Body, the Church, to mature in Him and survive in this world. Yes, these gifts of Jesus to the Church is for the Church who have received Him as their Gift of life and must now be taught and fed in the ways of God through the gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. These few gifts have the full responsibility to build up the Church, correct it, edify it, and help it grow in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the season more than ever that we receive the Gift of God to not only save us from our sins but to fill us with joy unspeakable and a peace that passes all understanding. It is the time for much rejoicing.
BLESSINGS!
