Living 4 Him

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights.”  James 1:17

When I was teaching first grade, I didn’t have to wait for Christmas or the end of the school year to receive gifts.  They could show up on any day.  A brightly colored picture on my desk.  A handful of blooming dandelions delivered after recess.  A special rock to add to my collection.  Love flowed from the heart of every child through their unique gift. 

The gifts of God, brought to us through the life, death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ, are present every moment of every day of the year.  Not just on special occasions.  Not just on Sundays.  Not only when we quietly seek him in prayer.  Not only when we face desperate situations.  They show up every day.  Receiving these gifts anew every morning strengthens our earthly lives and moves our faith forward. 

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” John 15:7 Love. The gracious gift of the Father.  Given freely.  Always available.  Love is not just what God does; love is who he is.  God’s love reaches, accepts, enfolds, lifts up, holds, and walks with us day by day.  What a glorious gift!

“Peace I leave with you.  My peace I give to you.”  John 14:27 Jesus was careful to explain in John 14 that his peace is not a quiet stillness, detectable with our ears.  It is a calming serenity that settles into our souls which nothing can disturb. It is a constant peace, always at hand, not dependent upon circumstances. It is a forever peace that lasts beyond our earthly life.

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:11 I once defined joy as a “radiant satisfaction that overwhelms our senses and fills every empty space.”  In the Book of Joy, written by the Dalai Lama and the Archbishop Desmond Tutu it is referred to as “shining contentment” or “spiritual radiance.” Our joy comes from knowing that all is well in our souls.  God is with us.  We are forgiven through the blood of Jesus.  We have a life of eternal joy ahead of us.  God’s joy is ever-present.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  John 3:17 The gift of forgiveness is one that we need daily. God is able to look into our souls and see the stains that block the goodness of his love.  As humans, our missteps, both known and unknown, are inevitable.  But God did not leave us in this condition.  He made a way to cleanse our souls through his Son.  Turning darkness into light is God’s specialty. 

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26 Jesus gave his body on earth and through his resurrection he gave his Spirit to remain on earth.  The Holy Spirit offers guidance and refreshment to navigate the perils of earth. The Spirit knows each person inside and out, providing the way to receive God’s best . This gift of the Holy Spirit is God beside us and inside us; a richness worth celebrating!

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who lives in me will live even though he dies.”   John 11:25 God is eternal.  He wants us to live with him forever.  The gift of life everlasting with God may seem fuzzy to comprehend, but if we take time to ponder the greatness of  God’s eternity we know that this gift is like a grand finale that will never reach its end.  What a precious promise from our Father!

Love. Peace. Joy. Salvation. The Holy Spirit.  Eternal Life.  These beautiful gifts, beyond our imagining, remain at our fingertips each day.  These gifts are the reality we live in.  Just like any gift we might receive for our birthday or Christmas or any other occasion, the gift must be opened and used.  What good is the gift if we stuff it away on a shelf?  Open up the gifts that God gives and you’ll find even more gifts to enjoy.

I keep favorite Christmas cards and one of my best in the past several years has a quote that says, “Jesus is the perfect gift to fit the size of every heart.”  He knows the gifts we need each day.  So start each day with open hands and open hearts ready to receive his very best for you.

Reaching in (allowing God’s word to work in your soul): Reread the quoted verses above and for further study, read them in the context of the Bible.  What gift is especially meaningful for you?  Reflect on this gift all week.

Reaching out (taking God’s word into the world): What gifts do you notice around you?  Creation? Protection? God’s Word?  Family?  God’s gifts are endless.  Focus on one or two gifts each week and each time you notice them, give thanks