God Speaking

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

I celebrated a birthday this week. Not a major, major one, but getting there and my loving family, probably thinking not many more to come, treated me to not one, but two lunches at classy restaurants and of course beautiful gifts. The gifts were carefully chosen and wrapped in brilliantly coloured paper and as I contemplated these love offerings I thought of the most incredible gift we have been given from the Heavenly Father in the person of his son, Jesus Christ. Not all gifts come gaily wrapped and I received other gifts in a different form, One special one was a long telephone call from Australia from a dear old friend. There were also cards lovingly inscribed. Another lunch with two sweet ladies. Friends dropped by to spend time with me for my birthday, I even received special loving messages via Facebook from my granddaughters. Each gift whatever form it took brought me great joy and I began to see that in genuine giving both the giver of the gift and the one who receives the gift are blessed. Our Heavenly Father is the expert in the art of gift giving.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17)

The Father loves to lavish us with gifts His gifts to us will always be good for us and perfect for exactly who we are. His gifts come in all sorts of different forms. He cares about our basic needs. He wants us to even receive satisfaction from our work .

“I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil – this is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 3:12 – 13)

When we are aware of the bounteous gifts the Father pours out upon us, a change in our attitude to others takes place. When we experience the joy of receiving these gifts we become eager to share our gifts with others. When Paul was writing to Timothy he urged him to “…fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Timothy 1: 6)

If I had not bothered to open one of my gifts, the gift would have been wasted and the gift giver hurt. So too with the gifts God has blessed us with. Every one of us has been given gifts to use to God’s glory and to benefit others. Of course all the gifts are not the same and none of us can say we have no gift. Paul was a mentor to Timothy, who we gather was timid and shy, but when Paul helped him to see his gift, young Timothy became a tireless worker for Jesus Christ. Helping others to see their gifts is a wonderful way of giving back to God. Tell someone when you see them encouraging another. The gift of encouragement is very much needed in our communities. Tell someone who you see relating to children. Our children need solid Christian mentors. Encourage others to use their teaching skills. Encourage others to use their wisdom for the troubled in the congregation.

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10)

We can never out give the supreme giver of all gifts who selflessly gave himself to us in the form of Jesus Christ, such a magnificent gift it defies human language and that is why Paul describes it as “indescribable” (2 Corinthians 9:15) and why R.V.G Taskercalls it, “The divine gift which inspires all gifts.”

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• Saying Thanks Before the Gift (alifegivingmoment.wordpress.com)