GREAT GIFTS

The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein – Psalm 24.1

For if through the offence of one (Adam) many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many – Romans 5.15

Imagine you’re walking on the road. After a while you meet an old man lying on the road side. His wide jacket is torn. He wears short, frayed trousers. He looks skinny. It’s obvious that he suffers from malnutrition. Poor man!

While you continue your way, you meet someone selling trousers. You don’t have a lot of money, but still decide to buy a pair of trousers for the man you met. On the way back you give the man his new pair of trousers. He says he’s very grateful for the gift you’ve given him.

The next day you meet the same man. The trousers you gave him are already torn! Obviously the man has not been careful with the trousers he received. You feel so disappointed.

How would you feel if someone doesn’t care for the gift you have given him?

We all receive many gifts every day. They are given by the great God[1]. There is only one God[2]. We read about Him in the Bible, His Word. God is eternal, knows everything, is faithful and is everywhere[3]. God is the Creator and Owner of everything[4]. Every day we witness His mercy, goodness and grace by looking at what we receive from Him. Let’s think about some of the gifts God gives us and how we must respond to it.

God’s gift: the earth

The Bible tells us that God created heaven and earth[5]. God didn’t use anything; He spoke and it was[6]. Before He created anything, there was nothing but God[7]. God made the sun, moon and stars. He created the big cows and small mosquito’s. He created the big trees and the little flowers. Fishes, ants, fruits, goats, worms, snakes and bushes; everything is created by Him. Everything He created was good[8], because the Creator Himself is good.

God still cares for His creation[9]. That is called God’s providence: He reigns the whole world and cares for it. God causes the sun to rise so that we can work during day. He creates bees to pollinate flowers so that we can eat fruits. He gives rains for the crops to grow. He causes trees to produce oxygen for us so that we can breathe. He creates termites to make ant hills so that we have good soil to make bricks. All these things, and many more, are God’s great gifts to us.

God is the Owner of the earth[10]. He has appointed man to look after it all[11]. We must be careful that we don’t destroy God’s creation. Think about how we treat animals, even the little ones. Let’s not destroy God’s creation by  throwing plastic bags and other  waste. Whatever we do has consequences for God’s creation. We must keep nature with what it needs to be healthy and avoid everything that destroys it.  God gives us food every day[12]; let’s value that and not waste it. 

God’s creation is His precious gift to us so we must care for it the best we can!

God’s gift: our bodies

God also created men[13]. He made the first people on earth: Adam and Eve. He still creates. Little babies, even before they are born, are made by Him[14]. Our bodies are God’s gifts to us.

Our bodies are amazing. Think about our eyes to see, tongues to taste, ears to hear, feet to walk, voice to speak. We don’t understand how it all works together. God causes our bodies to function. He knows everything about us[15].

God is our Owner, because He has created us. The purpose of our creation is to glorify and honour God[16], so we must use our bodies for that[17]. God wants us to care for our bodies by using what He provides for us and avoid everything that harms them. Think about eating too much or eating without variety. Think about hygiene and marriage-life. Think about living in an healthy and clean environment.

Our bodies are God’s precious gifts to us, so we must care for them the best we can!

God’s gift: the Bible

Another gift God has given us, is the Bible. The Bible is God’s Word[18]. It is a precious gift, because in the Bible, God makes Himself known to us.

God is the most high and honourable One[19]. He is holy: perfectly good and without any blame[20]. We as people are the opposite of God. We are sinners: not holy, but failing to serve God the way He deserves[21]. We are focussed on ourselves instead of focussed on honouring God in everything we do, say and think[22]. God hates sin and therefore, every sinner deserves punishment in hell forever[23]. Despite being sinners, the almighty, holy King of Kings speaks to us through the Bible[24]. That is amazing!

God wants us to know that we cannot be truly happy unless He takes our sins away[25]. In the Bible God teaches us the only way to be redeemed from sin: through Jesus Christ, God’s Son[26]. Having a Bible to learn from it, is worth our effort and money! The Bible is God’s precious gift to us, because it teaches us about Jesus, the Saviour.

God’s gift: Jesus Christ

There is one Gift that is more precious than all other gifts: Jesus. God sent His Son Jesus to reconcile sinners with God[27]. Jesus died on the cross to set His sinful people free from their sin[28]. They are brought in a good relationship with God, because of Jesus the Saviour[29]. Everyone who repents and solely depends on Him for salvation of sin, is His[30]. Salvation for sinners through Jesus a precious gift out of grace[31]!

Have you received Jesus as a Gift from God to save you from your sinful heart and life? If not, repent and depend on Jesus alone for your salvation. There’s nothing we can do to contribute to our salvation. Going to church, praying, listening to the Bible and asking the pastor for advice are good things to do, but they do not cleanse us from our sins[32]. Jesus does. Ask Him for everything you need to be saved: Jesus is willing to send you His Holy Spirit to teach you[33]. God’s mercy is great[34]!

If God gave you Jesus as your Saviour, thank Him for His precious Gift[35]. Every day God cares for you[36]. He gives you what you need in life and death[37]. Live a life full of gratefulness for God’s mercy and care. Honour Him in everything you do, for God is great!

Seek and find God’s greatest Gift: Jesus Christ.

He is more worth than anything on earth[38]. 

~

But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you – Matthew 6.33

--------------------

[1]James 1.17, [2] Isaiah 45.5, [3] Isaiah 57.15, Psalm 139.1-4, Matthew 24.35, Jeremiah 23.24, [4] Romans 11.36, [5] Genesis 1.1, [6] Psalm 33.6, [7] Psalm 90.2, [8] Genesis 1, Psalm 34.8, [9] Jeremiah 5.24, Acts 14.17, 1 Chronicles 16.31, [10] Psalm 24.1, [11] Genesis 2.15, [12] Genesis 1.29, Matthew 6.11, Psalm 145.15, [13] Genesis 1.27, [14] Psalm 139.14, [15] Psalm 139, Matthew 10.30, [16] 1 Corinthians 10.31, [17] Romans 12.1, 1 Corinthians 6.13b, [18] 2 Timothy 3.16, Romans 3.2b, 2 Peter 2.21, Hebrews 1.1, [19] Psalm 91.1, [20] Revelation 4.8, [21] Ecclesiastes 7.20, Isaiah 64.6, Titus 3.3, Ephesians 2.3, Romans 14.23, [22] Romans 8.7, [23] Psalm 5.5, Revelation 20.15, [24] Isaiah 57.15, [25] Psalm 16.11, John 16.24, Luke 2.10 and 11, [26] John 14.6, Acts 10.43, Ephesians 1.7, [27] 1 John 4.10, [28] 1 Peter 2.24, Hebrews 9.28, Hebrews 10.14, [29] 1 Peter 3.18, Galatians 4.5, [30] John 1.12, Galatians 3.26, Mark 1.15, [31] Ephesians 2.8, [32] Philippians 3.4-8, [33] John 16.7 and 8, John 16.13-15, [34] Titus 3.5-7, [35] 2 Corinthians 9.15, [36] Psalm 34.10, [37] Psalm 48.14, [38] Matthew 13.45 and 46