NOT LACKING ANY GIFT
Prayer: Thank you Lord for the greatest gift we have ever received which is Your Son Jesus.
Scripture: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—Ephesians 2:8 NIV
I have heard December and the beginning of January referred to as, “The gift-giving season.” This politically correct, over-arching “season” encompasses all of the calendar holidays of these months. With so many celebrations, it is probable that every student in your school is gearing up to write out their “Wish list.” The sometimes short, sometimes extensive, sometimes obtainable, sometimes preposterous list of gifts one would like to obtain, at no cost to them, during the “Gift-giving season.” Have you started your gift list? Have you been presented with at least one list by a diligent family member yet? In preparing for the spirit of the season, I want you to share with one another the gifts you have received from God. This time together will carry over our time of Thanksgiving and help you focus on the gifts that matter the most. After you have shared your list with one another, read the Scriptures below noting the underlined gifts we have been given. Ponder these gifts during the “Gift-giving season” to keep a perspective on the Gift that is the real reason we celebrate during this season.
Gifts received:
Romans 3:23-24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith ; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.
Luke 11:13 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
Gifts of the Spirit – 1 Corinthians 12: 7-11 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit ; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. NAS
Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield ; The LORD gives grace and glory ; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Romans 15:5 – perseverance and encouragement
1 Corinthians 15:57 – Victory
1 Timothy 6:13 – Life to all things
Copyright Kathy Branzell. Email [email protected]