At work we reminisced about being children and trying to figure out what was inside those gifts under the tree. Some of us were "peekers" and others didn't dare. Have you ever received a gift inside a gift? I'm referring to clever packaging designed to conceal what really lies underneath; the recipient opens the gift only to find another box inside with another gift to unwrap. I'm here to tell you that this how God wrapped his most precious Christmas gift! There is a unique gift inside the 'gift of Christmas' for each one of us.
The obvious gift at Christmas for all of us is Jesus Christ. He was in fact a gift. John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only begotten Son so whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life." Salvation is a gift. It is not something you can earn by being good. Why? Because none of us is good when compared to a holy God.
"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. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:8-10)
The second half of this scripture reveals the 'gift inside the gift' that God has for you. Once you accept the freely given gift of salvation from God, he has something special handpicked inside just for you. This is called your "Spiritual Gift" and is only given to believers who choose to accept and open the gift of Jesus in their lives. You have a calling on your life and God has particular plans specifically prepared for you in advance to do. "..for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable."(Romans 11:29) The unequivocal truth is this: you will only be fully satisfied in this life when you are fully executing your God given gift. I think this is also in part why this time of year can be so hard for some folks and depression hits an all time high during the holidays; their hearts are longing for significance and know they should have it, but they haven't opened their gift of Jesus to find it. Without him, the holiday is missing something quite substantial and ultimately this includes your personal reason for being here on Earth.
Spiritual gifts take many different forms but all are used for God's plans:
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines." (1Corinthians 12) This passage tells us spiritual gifts include things like the gift of healing, prophecy, discernment, administration, encouragement, mercy, serving, and teaching.(Romans 12) When you first discover what your gift is, it is like a tiny ember or spark inside of you. It has to be developed without fear into what God fully intended.
"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." (2nd Tim 1:5-7)
The number one song on the Billboard chart during this week before Christmas is "Firework" by Katy Perry. Of course I don't approve of how her video and its worldly message has warped what ultimately is one of God's wonderful truths; but this is fairly typical of Satan who has tried to defile the gift of Christmas since that first silent night in the manger. However, the message behind the song is what got me thinking about the flame inside of all of us and how it is tied to the best gift you ever got for Christmas. If you close your eyes, and listen to this song with the notion of your spiritual gift in mind, one could see why this song is so popular especially this time of year.
One part of the lyrics are this.."maybe your reason why all the doors are closed, so you can open one that leads you to the Perfect Road." "But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:14) Want to be fully satisfied and know that you are living out your specifically chosen purpose here on Earth? It's as simple as accepting a gift. You are a firework meant to shine in a very dark world. "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light." Ephesians 5:8 Merry Christmas and may your New Year shine brightly from within!
Katy Perry "Firework"
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