Christmas Gifts

I was on an airplane coming home from a meeting and was thinking about what I was going to write about in this months newsletter. I started thinking about how close we are to Christmas and about buying gifts. I enjoy buying gifts for people. I love to see the look on people’s faces when you get them something they really want. They light up with joy when they open the gift. All these gifts are visible and bring much joy to the receiver. Then I began to think about the gifts that God gives His children. These gifts are invisible when given but become visible when acted upon. These gifts never get old or wear out. The gifts that God gives are eternal. I have seen people receive the gifts of God and watched as their faces lit up just like people who receive that special gift they desire at Christmas. Let’s look at some of the gifts God has given us. The greatest gift God has given us is Jesus. John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Jesus is the gift that everyone desperately needs. Jesus gave His life for us so that we could live the abundant life. Mark 10:45 says: For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. God also gave us eternal life through Jesus. Romans 6:23 says: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Another gift God has given us is the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38 says: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost stands beside us and helps us live in victory and gives us the ability to do the works that Jesus did. Also, another gift God has given us through the Holy Spirit is the gift of healing. I Corinthians 12:9 says: To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit. Health is a priceless gift. God gave us exactly what we needed and if we will meditate on these gifts our faces will light up with joy unspeakable. These gifts do not just affect our lives at Christmas, They affect our lives 365 days a year. We can joyfully say that we have Christmas throughout the year. God bless.