The Good Gifts ~ 12/31 devotional

His Word: Even though you’re evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” Luke 11:13

Observation and Obedience: Jesus is talking here, the disciples were asking and listening. They wanted to know how to pray. He gives them "the Lord's Prayer", which is a prayer of asking. "Father, reveal who you are. Set the world right. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil." (MSG)

God's Gifts Are Everlasting

His Word: He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:11-13

Observation & Obedience: God’s gifts to us are innumerable; often beyond what we can even imagine or ask for. But what are we doing with his gifts? Are we putting them on a shelf only to gather dust? Are they doomed to the basement until the next time a “white elephant” present is needed?

Gift: A Reclamation ~

Guest Post by Emily Gehman 

“This is for Christmas and your birthday.”

I’ve lost count of how many times that phrase has accompanied the neatly wrapped—in either Christmas or birthday paper—package handed to me. I don’t complain much, though, because when I do, my brother is quick to remind me it could be worse. His birthday is on Christmas Eve.

The Eternal Gift ~

Guest Post by Deb Potts

His Word:  “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:22-23

Observation & Obedience: Why, oh why is it so difficult to make the switch from our life before Christ to our life after Christ? Down through the ages people who follow Christ have felt the same frustration.

The Gift

Guest Post by Leslie Schonfeld

His Word: Acts 2:38 (NIV) Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Observation: Empowered by the Pentecost experience, Peter delivered this impactful speech. Thousands came to Christ. His passion persuaded them to accept Jesus and all were empowered by the Spirit dwelling in Peter. 

Repent and receive. We often concentrate on the difficultly of repentance. Focused on changing ourselves, we miss the fulfilled promise delivered to us by Jesus death and resurrection. We receive the gift of the Holy Spirit when we turn our lives over to Jesus. 

A gift! A present; FREE! No payment needed. Can you imagine if we had rules and requirements receiving gifts? Imagine Christmas morning. The presents entice us from under the tree. We have counted the days, early in the morning we run to them. The anticipation is over. It’s here! We gather with our families but we don’t feel adequate enough for the love shared there. We don’t touch the presents. We are not good enough. Maybe someday; but not today. Each gift remains under the tree untouched as we work to be worthy. 

Sounds a little silly doesn’t it. At my house, as soon as everyone is in the room, the paper flies! Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love to give and get gifts. There is joy in unconditional giving and receiving. Yet, for many of us we have a living gift residing in us that we push aside. Wrapped in a tidy package, we tuck it away in the faith corner of our soul. We point it out when others ask about it but we don’t utilize it.

We need to embrace God’s gift. As we unwrap the Holy Spirit, His presence covers us with comfort and peace. The Spirits indwelling is the source of our strength. When we yield our control to Him; His fruits grow.   Make room for them. His fruits (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) then become gifts we give to others. As we give the Spirit grows. 

Yes, repentance is a necessary part of the Spirit indwelling but it is a process that takes time. The more we utilize the gift the more we reflect God. Paul reminds us of this in 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV) “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as first fruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your Spirit through the sacrifice of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Help us to open this gift daily. Grow the fruits in us so we may give to others what we have received from you. Help us to be mindful of this in all we do. In Jesus name, AMEN.

Encouragement: “The Holy Spirit can be with you always and guide you back to Him, but in order to enjoy the benefits of this holy gift, you must truly receive it, and then you must use it in your life. How sad it would be to be given such a precious gift and then set it aside and never use it.” -Margaret D. Nadauld