What a Gift

I don’t have a recollection of when I was ever 100% completely satisfied with all my childhood Christmas gifts. How completely and utterly ungrateful! Guilty as charged! What a narcissistic ninny. Why, yes, that was me!  The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:6, “godliness with contentment is great gain,” and I knew nothing about that scripture at that time. All I knew was that Christmas gifts of socks, sheets, and pantyhose were the equivalent of receiving coal!

Yet, I do remember the best gift I ever received, although it was not at Christmas. A former co-worker gave me a nugget that blew me away! Such an awesome gift. I walked into her office, totally unsuspecting, and once she gave me the gift, the eyes of my understanding were blown wide open. Like a shaft, the gift penetrated my soul and spirit, joint and marrow and in an instant, optic nerves opened, synapses were firing. The miraculous power of the Holy Spirit saved me, gave me supernatural discernment, scales fell off my eyes and understanding entered.  I remember taking a deep breath, like a first gasp of air after being saved from an incomprehensible depth. That same deep breath was also the realization of my own sin and the depths where Satan had me. The gift that never made sense before made sense that day and it was the Best Gift I have ever received!

What was that Nugget, that awesome Gift? Salvation through God’s Word, “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:15

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You have loved us with an everlasting love and with loving kindness You have called us. Forgiveness and love were already in Your mind before You even sent your only begotten Son. Thank You for the Gift of the Babe in the manger that would one day sympathize with all our weaknesses, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15), and take the penalty for our sins. Thank You for sending Jesus for me. Jesus, You weren’t a Gift under a tree, but You are my Gift before time that I would receive in time for all eternity!
By Sis. Paula Smith