Giving the Inner Gift

Acts 20:35 “In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” ~CSB
 
It is that time of year! Family, friends, food, fun, Christmas movies and the exchanging of gifts! I mean how can you beat the feeling of receiving a wrapped present, size and weight teasing your curiosity and opening it without any knowledge of what is inside.  The best gifts are those you had absolutely no idea what you were going to receive but when you got it, you were so glad you got it!
 
This wonderful feeling is responsible for us putting aside the real reason for the season.  Jesus being born. The birth of the Messiah who grew to become the Savior resulting from His death on the cross. This is the best gift for all of us who believe.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying we shouldn’t give and receive.  What I am saying is that there are other gifts that we should be concentrated on giving this year as well.
 
One gift in particular is hard for some of us to give. Those of us who have been hurt, those of us who have been broken as a result of a betrayed relationship.  This is the gift of forgiveness. Some of us will not join family this year because they will not forgive. Something happened where a wound has not closed.  For those of us who are at this crossroad, think about how our Father forgave us. John 3:16 says, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” ~NLT
 
“HE GAVE…”  His Son took our place in our accountability for the sins we were born in and created for ourselves.  His Son, who paid a debt we owed but could never pay.  It is this gift that we can never be thankful enough.  It is this gift that we can never give to its equivalent. But we can live our lives loving ‘in spite of’. Forgiving regardless of how we feel. And giving our time, our talent and our money.  We do this because all those things were given to us by God.   
 
We serve God because He created us to serve others.  The text above says that it has been shown to us the necessity, “…to help the weak by laboring…” In other words, others may not forgive us, others may not give to us but we who are stronger in our faith will show others God’s Spirit in us by being the first to do so.
 
It is God who will reward us in our humility.  Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it will be given to you: a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” ~CSB
 
This season step up and allow others to see what God has done with you and for you this year.  Show others how far God has brought you. Because He is bigger than you situation, He has made you stronger than your situation.  Allow His love to show and shine through you and bring our families back together. Forgive and allow God’s healing power to take place and finally heal that wound.  Jesus said, “…it is better to give than to receive…” This is because the gift has already been given to us.  And this gift gives birth to all of God’s promises to us.
 
May God bless and keep you in this season of His Son’s birth. In Jesus’ name,
 
Amen

Blessings, and Merry Christmas! 
 
Billy and Yolanda

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