I put together a little assignment for you ladies today, a few questions
you can ponder and then find the answers to yourself! Of course, there
is no better place than the Word of God for those answers, amen?
~What God Really Wants In The Way Of A Gift~
The holiday seasons bring with them the temptation to be
somewhat extravagant, considering all the many things in this world there
is that we can give to one another. A common complaint from the typical
family is "we spent too much!" Have you already voiced those words yourself??
Perhaps the problem is not how much we spent but rather what we chose
to give.... You see, value often is not connected with price!
Looking back over the special gifts you've received over the years, what
has been one or two that have been the most precious and meaningful to
you? What was it about those gifts that gave them so much value?
Do you think God looks forward to receiving gifts from us the way we like
to receive gifts from each other, or does the fact that He owns everything
and therefore needs nothing mean that the Lord has little concern about
receiving gifts?
In the Bible are various records of occasions where "gifts" were offered
to God either directly or indirectly. List the gift offered and describe
(if the verse comments on it) how God felt about the gift:
* Isaiah 56:7
* Philippians 4:18
* Hebrews 13:16
* Proverbs 15:8
* Isaiah 1:11-15
* Jeremiah 6:19&20
As you read Romans 12:1&2, a well-known portion of scripture, answer the
following questions as they are dealt with in this passage:
~ According to Paul, what is an important gift that God desires us to
present Him with today?
~ In what form or in what kind of condition does God want this gift to
come to Him?
~ What are some of the reasons why He wants this gift from us?
~ What kind of changes or impact should we expect IN OUR LIVES if from
us God is presented with this gift mentioned in this passage?
Now that we've studied what God wants in the way of a gift from us, how
(as implied by the verses we have studied) are we to deliver the gift
He longs for, how do we send it to Him? How will we know He has it?
Since our heavenly Father is the best "Gift-Giver" of all, His Word gives
us important clues as to the technique for giving gifts... It is the care,
the heart and the sacrifice behind the gift that is the really memorable
part of our gift exchanges, amen? Preparing and purchasing a gift that
suits the one we wish to honor is also very important... To make the right
choice, it is appropriate to ask yourself this question:
"What do they need and how can I really demonstrate my caring for them?"
Ladies, that's precisely how the Lord decided to send His Son into the
world! As sinners headed for hell, we desperately needed a Savior, amen?
(Romans 6:23) The Lord recognized that need and demonstrated His love
for us in sending Christ to die for our sins, a perfect and loving sacrifice.
Have you received that precious gift of salvation through God's Son? If
so, I would hope that in gratitude for such a wonderful gift your heart's
desire would be to honor the One who cared so much about you! If you're
thankful for His faithfulness, then get busy and prepare something special
to give back to your God while you wait for His return! What gifts have
you given Him this past year? Did it really suit the King of Kings?? What
gift, or gifts will you give your Lord this coming New Year? Will you
sacrifice just one day of living for Him, or a whole year....
ANOTHER YEAR FOR THEE
Another year is dawning!
Dear Master let it be,
In working or in waiting,
Another year with Thee!
Another year of leaning
Upon Thy loving breast,
Of even deeper trusting,
Of quiet, happy rest.
Another year of mercies,
Of faithfulness and grace;
Another year of gladness,
In the shining of Thy face.
Another year of progress,
Another year of praise;
Another year of proving
Thy presence "all the days."
Another year of service,
Of witness to Thy love;
Another year of training
For holier work above.
Another year is dawning!
Dear Master, let it be,
On earth, or else in Heaven,
Another year for Thee!
In closing, I want you to understand that generous people aren't necessarily
faithful to God. But people who are faithful to God are always generous!
God desires generosity of His children and that takes preparation... You
see ladies, generosity flows out of a sincere concern for those in need,
while reluctant giving reflects a lack of concern for people and the things
of God in general. The next time you are tempted to hold back from giving
cheerfully, remind yourself of God's generosity by reading 2 Corinthians
9:15 and see if that won't change your attitude this next year!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000
Pamela A. Iannello
