RECEIVING GIFTS

Paul, in Acts 20:35, quoted Jesus as saying, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (NIV)  But, in most cases, one is never asked, "What do you plan to give for Christmas?"  It's almost always, "What are you getting for Christmas?"  It seems that most of us are not looking for "blessings" but rather, more stuff.

On Christmas morning, the scene is often of sleepy-eyed children (and adults) tearing wrapping paper off our gifts.  There is almost no consideration for how long or with how much care someone took to wrap a gift.  "Tear that paper off so I can see what I got."  "It better be what I wanted."  "Can I exchange it?"

Isn't it just like Jesus to get to the heart of a matter?  Giving from love, caring, compassion and sharing will bring about more blessings than receiving ever will.  Those "blessings" don't mean more stuff or things, but, rather, more of God's richness, more of His "well done, good and faithful servant."

Sometimes though, as Christians, we are going to have to deal with receiving gifts.  Sometimes there are gifts that we can't buy, earn or deserve.  Sometimes there are gifts that our friends, neighbors or parents can't afford.  So, how do we deal with gifts like that?

In Ephesians 2:8-9, we learn that grace, by which we are saved through faith, is the gift of God--not by our works or anything that we could do and thereby boast.  Grace is the gift; faith is the receiving of it.  We can't be saved without receiving (by faith) the gift of God (His grace).

Acts 2:38 tells of another gift from God.  Peter is preaching on the day of Pentecost that we should repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.  Another of the benefits of having our sins forgiven is that "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you." (Acts 1:8 NIV)  Romans 6:23 (NIV) tells us "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  If you will, note that wages are earned, but the gift of God is by grace (unearned).

I urge you to read John 1:1-18.  Jesus is the Father's gift to the world.  But, the world must receive the gift.  Verse 12 says, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God." (NIV)  Isn't it wonderful that if we receive God's gift, He just keeps on giving?

Father, thank You for the gift of Your only Son and for teaching me how to receive Him.  May I forever learn to keep my heart open for the gifts that You keep on giving.  May I have the good judgment to keep on receiving from You.

The more I receive of God's gifts, the more He gives.  What a marvelous God and what a wonderful philosophy of giving as His is!