The best of gifts

Ephesians 4:7

“But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”

Being a child of the forties and coming from a family that was under resourced, we did not get gifts on our birthday or on Christmas, we got one gift, and I can remember a Christmas or two that all we got was what went into our stockings.  But I’ve been blessed to watch my grandsons have birthday parties and I am astonished at the volume of gifts and how expensive many of the gifts are.  When there are ten or more children invited, the gifts will vary in price from ten dollars to twenty-five dollars, and it is always of interest to observe both the giver and the receiver of the gift.  It seems that the kid with the more expensive gift always wants their gift opened first, then without fail it seems the one of much less material value is opened next.  I often watch the giver of the gift and he’s not very excited to have his gift opened next, and I must say that my daughter and son-in-law have done a great job with the boys in that all gifts are treated with the same enthusiasm.  So what kind of gift would you expect from our Creator God?  Let me share a short list with you in the following comments.

If your schedule is anything like ours you will get tired both physically and emotionally, but worst than either the physical or the emotional; is you will get tired spiritually.  Jesus came to our party with a gift of “rest.”  “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)  If you keep reading the following verse tells us “to learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul.”  Most of us take vacations to rest, and we find no rest because we are driving long distances or waiting in airports, and long flights, and a rush each day to see as much as possible.  Have you opened the gift of Spiritual rest that Jesus has promised you?

In this world of enlightenment, it seems as if many have lost heart, it is the heart that God addresses more than any other topic in the Bible.  But one of the gifts Jesus has for you is a new heart.  God speaking through the prophet Ezekiel; “And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them.  I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them.  And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.”  (Ezekiel 11:19-20)  This gift of grace that was given to me according to the measure of Christ, is the gift of Eternal life, I’ve entered into Christ, who has no beginning and no end.  This gift that cost God the Father the pain and sorrow of sending His only Son to earth to redeem me out of the control of the evil one, was given to me by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.  “I gave them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)  If you have not opened this gift from Christ Jesus, you will not be able to open any of the others.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice