The Gift
Thanksgiving is in our rearview mirror and Christmas’ll be here ‘fore you know it. Folks are decorating their homes and puttin up the ol Christmas tree…a few have started on their shopping for that right gift for family and friends … the Hallmark movies are playing and the kids are drivin mom crazy being out o’ school on vacation. Dad’s already grumbling about all the decorations that haveta be taken back up in the attic and tryin to convince mom to just put up a small tree. God bless us every one ! As for “gift giving”… try to recall your most-favorite that you received last year. Uh-huh …that’s what i thought … you can’t remember what you ate for lunch two days ago, so you sho ain’t gon’ remember what you got last Christmas. Unless it was a “big ticket” gift, or yall gave each other something like a cruise, it’s probably hard to remember. A “gift” is just a gift … it’s made or bought, and it’s “given” … but if it’s not “received”, it doesn’t benefit anybody. Some of us have hidden gifts so they wouldn’t be found beforehand … and when the unwrapping was done, that particular gift remained where it was hidden … found accidentally later on in the year. A “received” gift is not only given, it’s accepted by someone that had no part in purchasing it or making it. Certain “gifts” keep on giving long after they’ve been exchanged. My wife, Pennye Jacobs Lewis is one of em. God “gifted” me with her over 45 years ago…and she’s still as precious as the day she first smiled at me. Another “gift” He offers is either received, or rejected … His Son , Jesus Christ. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God…children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God ( John 1:11-13 ). It’s called,” born again” for a reason. When we get to that point in life where we feel like something’s missing…something’s just not right, or that there’s got to be more… God whispers,”You’re right.” And He’s offering us the opportunity of a lifetime … a chance to be all He’s designed and purposed us to be … the privilege of being called, “a child of GOD”! It’s HIS gift to us…held out with unimaginable love … but, until we reach back out and receive it, it’s not ours. It’s not a bomb and it won’t bite…it’s not one of “those gifts” that you’re gonna wanna return…it’s the greatest gift we’ll ever receive … but only if we receive it and open it. The gift that keeps on giving … a relationship with God through faith and acceptance of His Son ! To receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior is not only the greatest gift we’ll ever receive, it’s the greatest story ever told ! It’s not to be received and kept for/to ourselves … it’s to be “confessed” by way of testimonies, deeds done out of the love He pours out of us, actions that used to be impossible…”fruit” that we never knew existed ( Galatians 5:22-23 )! By accepting/ receiving and opening this gift from God, we open ourselves up to “new” things, “new” ways and “new” possibilities ( 2 Corinthians 5:17 ) ! God begins a work “in us” and “through us” that glorifies Himself ( Philippians 1:6 ) … it’s the “gift” that keeps on giving ! Once “in”, you’ll never forget this amazing Gift that GOD gave you “that day” … and even if it ain’t December 25, it’ll still be a “Merry Christmas” !!