THE GIFT from The Giver of Life!
“The Spirit of God has made me,
(The Book of Job 33: 4 NASB)
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
When Job was suffering, one of his three friends shared this truth with him, but then Elihu claimed to speak for God why Job was suffering within his earthly body. It is truly odd how humanity can speak the beauty of the truth God gifts to mankind, closely followed by the words of judgment we so often speak over our friends.
In contrast, we find the words of Jesus, God’s Only Son, everlasting truth—The Truth of God!
“Truly, truly, I say to you,
(The Gospel According to John 6: 47-51 NASB)
he who believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.
Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness,
and they died.
This is the bread which comes down out of heaven,
so that one may eat of it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down out of heaven;
if anyone eats of this bread,
he will live forever;
and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
Since we were young, more than likely, we have heard our elders, our Sunday School teachers, and our ministers say: “You can’t outgive God.” Today, as I was driving home, listening to Christian radio, I heard a dialogue on the Gift & the Giver. In straining to really listen, I began to consider the many gifts our Father has given to us. As the dialogue continued, I wondered: Do we focus too much on the ‘gifts’ He bestows upon us as we live here, in our earthly home.
- Comfort for those who mourn
- Garments of praise
- Nourishment & Water as we walk through life
- A home where we may rest our weary bones
- Children to bring us joy
- Careers to use our skills
- Friends to enjoy
- Rest from sorrow
- Strength as it is needed
- Rest from our enemies
- The Rain & The Sun & The Increase
- Our Very Next Breath!
Jesus reminds us of the essentials we are to focus upon, where we are to center our lives. He does so by revealing the opposite. Oh my, we sometimes dwell upon those gifts that will not last.
“Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness,
(The Gospel According to John 6: 49-50 NASB)
and they died.
This is the bread which comes down out of heaven,
so that one may eat of it and not die.”
As I drove along, listening, wondering about my focus, & convicted as the TRUTH was revealed. Why is it that we focus on our earthly homes, the clothing our children wear, the jobs we seek, and the holiday vacations we so enjoy taking—when our neighbors across the street are lost and do not know Jesus as their Savior?
“Truly, truly, I say to you,
(The Gospel According to John 6: 47-48 & 51 NASB)
he who believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.
. . .
I am the living bread that came down out of heaven;
if anyone eats of this bread,
he will live forever;
and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
We are truly accountable to God for that which He has given to us. We cannot ‘pilfer’ away those gifts He so richly bestows. Nonetheless, we who believe, who are the children of God, must not dwell upon the earthly gifts we have received, for we have a FAR-RICHER GIFT—THE GIVER of LIFE—THE ONE WHO HAS DIED FOR THE PENALTY OF OUR SINS!
Thus, as this gift of today unfolds—
MAY WE NOT FOCUS TOO MUCH ON THE GIFTS HE GIVES.
BUT
MAY WE INSTEAD DWELL IN THE CENTER OF HIS WILL!
Through His death on the cross & our acceptance of His Amazing Gift of Salvation, we have received HIM & the right to witness to others about The Giver of Life. As we testify, let us focus upon the Scriptures that proclaim—
- Freedom from our chains of bondage
- Light where darkness existed
- A heart to know Him intimately
- An eternal inheritance to those who believe in Him
- A crown of righteousness
- A song in our heart
- A future, a hope & An eternal home
- Peace that endures
- His goodness
- His Provision for all that we need
- His Son to those who believe
- His Holy Spirit to comfort & lead us through this life
- Grace & Glory
- Victory in Him
- Wisdom found in Him
LIFE FOREVERMORE!
“Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches,
(The First Letter of Paul to Timothy 6: 17-19 NASB)
but on God,
who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
Instruct them to do good,
to be rich in good works,
to be generous and ready to share,
storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future,
so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”