A TIME FOR GIFTS
Christmas ... aahhh, Christmas.
And because HE CAME we receive treasured gifts all year and every year. I look back over the many years and cannot begin to recount or even recall the multitude of gifts and benefits I have been given.
Some little while ago, I received another unexpected, out-of-the-blue treasure. I had been somewhat discouraged and for a few days had not been aggressively taking every thought captive. Then I asked the Lord for a fresh revelation of Himself. The next morning I was reading of the disciples on the Emmaus Road (Luke 24:1) who were joined by Jesus. Such a familiar passage but always precious. When I got to the verse where Jesus went into the house with them, suddenly I seemed to be in that very room and I was gripped by a deep, wordless wonder. As I paused in my reading, I actually shared the breathless awe of the disciples, gazing spellbound at the risen Saviour. Through a mist of tears which were stinging my eyes, I saw Jesus take the loaf in His wounded hands and He praised God and asked a blessing. Then He spoke to me and said that the loaf of bread could represent anything or everything in my life. That bread was already there and that was what He used for praise and blessing. He confirmed again in my heart that anything in my life that is trusted to His nail-pierced hands will result in praise to God and blessing for me and for others. Many gifts became ours immediately at salvation. Riches are stored up for us for when our Lord returns and we experience forever the very Presence of God.
But for right now there are spiritual treasures which are ours by Blood Atonement and our claim of them is made by our determination to possess them.
The gifts which we can choose to enjoy now include deliverance from sin, victory over the flesh, awareness of God's Presence and a deeper consciousness of our union with Him, and more and more a spirit of unbroken worship. Jesus Christ HIMSELF is the great Christmas Gift. Someone has said, "Our Lord wants our lives on earth to be one long Christmas Day of receiving His Gift of HIMSELF as our Victory."
What shall I render to the Lord (Psalms 116) for all His benefits toward me? How can I repay Him? I will take salvation, take deliverance and for every step I take, I will take and I will take and I will keep on taking from the One Who gives every good and perfect gift (James 1:17) BECAUSE-- "Out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth ... and giveth ... and giveth again."
With love & prayers,