Useless Gifts

A family excitedly gathers around the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. Each one notices that no gifts are under the tree. Mom tells her son that she had bought him a new bicycle but decided to keep it for herself. The daughter tells her mom that she had found a beautiful bouquet of flowers for the mom but decided that the flowers looked very good in her own room. The father explains to his daughter that he had crafted a wonderful doll house for her but decided that the quality was so good that he could sell it for a good price. The son tells his father that he had purchased an expensive watch for his father but had lost it on the way home from the store. If true, this story would be about the saddest Christmas that I have ever heard. Ungiven gifts are not really gifts at all.

Proverbs 25:14 says, “Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.” Through His grace, God has given each of us gifts. Some gifts are the talents and abilities He gives us. Other gifts include physical resources and loving relationships. He gives us these gifts so that we will honor Him in praise, but also so that we can benefit others by using our gifts to serve them.

What Did I Just See?

Have you ever witnessed an event that initially left you a little bewildered, but later you had seen something great? You first thoughts may have been confusion or dismay, but eventually you understood that what you saw was amazing.

Luke 7:14-16 says, “And he said, ‘Young man, I say to you, arise.’ And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God saying, ‘A great prophet has arisen among us!’ and ‘God has visited his people!'” When God moves, people respond. They may respond with a lack of understanding or with awe and faith. But every time God moves, He is glorified.

Frustrated

Yesterday, I got frustrated with unexpected traffic in our area. Two accidents had occurred at different places along a major thoroughfare. To be honest, traffic is rarely a problem in this area. But in my mind, I let the circumstances become a bigger problem than it really was. I forgot about the greater power that I had available to me in Jesus Christ.

Philippians 4:12-13 says, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Whether we live in the United States or another country, in poverty or with riches, amidst family or in a land far away, God’s strength is available to us. By His strength, we don’t just survive, but we are able to thrive in all circumstances.

True Love

The world gives us a distorted view of love. In the world’s view, we love because someone can give us something that we want. One problem with this type of love is that it frees us to disagree with others, even violently. We block loved ones from contact with us, we violently protest those with differing opinions, and we expect others to love who we love. God says, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” (I John 3:16) Love is not self-serving and demanding. Love is sacrifice and giving.

I John 4:7-8 says, “Beloved let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” God is love and those who are called the children of God will love as He loves, not in the fashion of worldly love.

Faith Muscles

When we try something new and are successful at it, we grow more confident the next time that we try it. We know that this works for us physically. We build strength by exercising muscles. The same process works for us in other areas of life. We grown more confident in public speaking by speaking in public. We grow more confident on our job through successes on the job.

I Samuel 7:12 says, “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, ‘Till now the LORD has helped us.'” Ebenezer means “stone of help”. Remembering God’s blessings of the past inflames our faith for God’s future blessings. Gratitude for God’s blessings keep our focus on God’s faithfulness.