God-Gifts of Christmas

We enjoy receiving gifts any time during the year, but we especially enjoy them at Christmas. Most of the time the wrapped gifts we receive include physical things, but other gifts, not wrapped, may come as intangible things like love and care by family members, good health, Christmas music, beautiful decorations, and celebrations with special friends or family. Did you know that the Bible tells us that God has given gifts to people? The phrase, “Gift of God,” occurs several times in the Bible and here are some of these God-gifts.

1)    The Gift of Salvation. The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation is God’s deliverance of people from the power and effects of sin through the work of Jesus Christ dying on the cross to pay the penalty of our sin. Salvation is the sinner's rescue from death to life with God.

2)    The Gift of God’s Grace. The Apostle Paul tells us, “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power” (Ephesians 3:7). Since all of us are sinners, we must rely on Jesus’ death on the cross on our behalf to receive forgiveness of sin and enjoy eternal salvation.

3)    The Gift of Eternal Life. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). This gift is available to anyone who believes in Christ and trusts that he died to pay the penalty of sin which we deserved to pay. Without Jesus Christ, it would be impossible for us to live with God forever.

4)    The Gift of Righteousness. Scripture explains, “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!” (Romans 5:17). When anyone puts their faith and trust in Jesus alone, they step into righteousness, which is only available because Jesus died on the cross for each of us. We become righteous, not because of anything we have done, but on what Christ had done.

5)    The Gift of Life. The Bible says, “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers” (I Peter 3:7). Marriage is a blending of two lives, and when a man has found a virtuous woman to marry, she becomes a precious gift – the gift of life.

Obviously, these God-gifts originate with God himself. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father [God] of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). We can enjoy these God-given-gifts all year long, but they are particularly precious during the Christmas season. Have you personally received these gifts from God? They are yours for the receiving. Take time to thank God for what he has given you. Do not let Christmas slip by without showing your appreciation to God for the wonderful gifts he has provided for you.

God's Help

Our family used to live in the San Joaquin Valley in California, not far from Yosemite National Park, where we periodically visited.  In the park, which is part of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, we were able to view “Half Dome”.  Half Dome is a rock formation that rises nearly 5000 feet above the valley.  The peak is cut by natural erosion, so it appears as if it is half of a dome, and thus the name.  When we visited the park and viewed Half Dome in person, I was reminded of Psalm 121 and two things that must have impressed the writer of this psalm.

1)    First, God’s Help.  As the psalmist viewed the range of hills before him, he made a comment and then posed a question.  He said, “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? (Psalm 121:1).  With confident assurance he immediately answered his own question by stating, “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2).  One look at the expanse of the hills that lay before him caused him to think about the faithfulness of His God.  It was God who repeatedly provided divine help for him and the hills impressed him with this thought.  If you have not seen Half Dome but have seen a mountain range, hills, or a huge rock formation, what has come to your mind?  Do you see the beauty of what is before you?  Do you recognize what you see as a creation of God?  That is good.  However, when you stand before a huge hill or mountain expanse I encourage you to think about the help that God has provided for you all because of His faithfulness.

2)    Second, God’s Ability.  To the psalmist the hills before him were huge.  They were mammoth.  However, in his mind’s eye, as big as these hills were, his God was even bigger.  It was God’s creative power that caused him to focus on God’s divine ability that was obviously much greater than his own ability.  God made the mountain.  Therefore, God had both the power and ability to do many wonderful things – not just in physical creation but also in his life.  The rest of Psalm 121 identifies what God did for the psalmist.

    a)    God was His Protection.  In every conceivable situation God was constantly guarding him.  The psalmist was reminded that, “He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber, indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:3-4).  God was there to protect him during the day or even in the deepest part of the night.

    b)   God was His Provision.  God was at hand to give the psalmist everything that he needed.  He said, “The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night” (Psalm 121:5-6).  Every need was provided so the psalmist had just what God wanted him to have.

   c)    God was His Preservation.  God watched over his daily life so closely that he was supported in every possible way.  The psalmist was reminded that, “The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life.  The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Psalm 121:7-8).  He was confident that God was in the business of preserving him – no matter where he was.

What is the biggest problem that you face today?  As you think of that problem remember Half Dome; remember the mountains.  Since God is bigger than the biggest mountain, He is also bigger than the greatest problem you face or could ever imagine.  Are you willing to turn the problem that you have over to God today?  He will provide help for you - more help than what you could ever ask for, think about, or imagine.  “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20).