The Perfect Gift

Isaiah 52:13-53:3

During Christmas time, birthdays, or special events, gifts are given to show love and appreciation to those deserving of kindness and generosity. While the gift itself is the main thing, many take precious time to adorn the gift as beautifully as possible. Gift wrapping has become as popular in our society as the gift itself, and millions of dollars are spent annually, for gift bags, wrapping paper, and other decorations that beautify the package. When all is said and done, the beautiful arrangement is meaningless, except for the gift that’s placed inside.

As God looked upon the earth, and considered the ways of men, how they continued in their insolence and disobedience, He prepared a gift to send to the earth, so that mankind could be redeemed. Unlike men, who spend time trying to make the outer appearance of the gift look as attractive as possible, God sent Jesus to the earth with no form or comeliness, and no beauty that any should desire Him. Why would God not send His only begotten Son arrayed in beauty, splendor, and majesty? If Jesus had come to the earth with the face of an angel and the body of a god, I’m certain men and women (especially) would have flocked to hear Him without question, right? Jesus came to save men from sin, not partake in beauty contests. Even in his common state, the prophet Isaiah stated that men would despise and reject Jesus, and He would bear many sorrows, so I highly doubt giving the Savior good looks would keep Him in good standing with the scribes and Pharisees, after delivering His sharp and controversial message.

The gift God gave the world may not have been the most beautiful on the outside, but it’s value is higher than anything we place a price tag on. Salvation cannot be bought with money, or bargained by trade. Only through confession and belief, can the gift of God be obtained by men. This precious gift, that man despises even today, came at great cost. Most gifts given to others are usually purchased on Amazon, or from a store of choice, but the gift of salvation came from suffering, abuse, betrayal, denial, blood, pain, sorrow, tears, shame, rejection… sigh.

Do you appreciate the gift God gave you, in His Son? We don’t deserve God’s precious gift, yet He gave it to us regardless. Prove your love to the Father by living a life that mirrors Christ, and learn to appreciate the gift of salvation more and more each day.

K. I. S. S. (Keep It Simple Saints)

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Preaching and proclaiming the Gospel of Christ is one of the most important mandates of the church. Christ’s death and resurrection brought sanctification, justification, and redemption to all who would freely receive it, so the world (and the church) should always be reminded of the unprecedented sacrifice responsible for providing them the opportunity to spend eternity in peace and tranquility with God the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit.

As of late, the more I hear sermons being preached from different platforms, the less I hear the potency of the truth of the Gospel. Men have devised creative and manipulative ways to try and deliver the Gospel in a “fresh” or new way, but most of what’s being brought forth is mostly washed up and watered down teaching (to say the least). The Gospel is simple, and the Word of God is capable of defending itself, so introducing unnecessary and irrelevant means of preaching the Gospel, that has already endured many generations, is futile. Keep it simple Saints. When bringing forth God’s Word to others, try not to bring attention to self, by using “excellency of speech or of wisdom, or enticing words of man’s wisdom”, instead preach in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. In other words, let the words of the Bible do the work, not your elegant or rehearsed verbiage. The apostle Paul was a brilliant scholar, and could have easily enticed his audiences with persuasive language, but he was wise and humble enough to allow the Gospel to teach, reach, and change men’s hearts God’s way.

To those who minister the Word, be mindful during your preparation of how you plan to deliver the Gospel. If your intentions are to woo the people with honeyed and enticing words, then you should reconsider bringing that message forth. Place your confidence in God, knowing that His Word is still as powerful today, as it was in the beginning, and keep it simple, so that your obedience can be honored by God, men can easily understand the depth of the Scriptures, and the Word can have free reign to penetrate the hearts of all who hear it.

Serve And Protect

Genesis 44:27-34

One of the believer’s duties in service to God is, to protect those who also stand in agreement with their faith confession. The Bible teaches in the book of Romans, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me” (Romans 15:1-3).

Some who follow after righteousness diligently, will at times, become weak in spirit, and will be unable to bear their burdens alone. It’s during these moments when the power of prayer and intercession become of great importance to those who are weak, and those who can help bear the burdens of others. A sure way to identify a real child of God, from those who only use God’s name for selfish purposes is, to monitor how far they go, to ensure that others are properly cared for. There are many who claim the name of Christ, and appear to perform good deeds, but their actions are only done to promote themselves, and gain relevance in the spotlight. True Christians do their alms in secret, intercede in their prayer closets, and desire only to help those in need, without seeking glory for themselves.

After you pledged your allegiance in service to God, and to protect His people, did you do so with the intentions of making your name great, or did you purposely intend to fulfill the Words Jesus spoke when He commanded, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”? (Matt. 22:37-40)

“We live this life for purpose and reason, but not too long, for only a season.” – Ell