Giving and Receiving
SCRIPTURE: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the [a]right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:” John 1:12
It has been reported that in 2024 about 42% of Americans planned to “re-gift” a present given them during the Christmas season. The recipients were not at all excited after opening the gift, or perhaps the size was too small, or the wrong color; maybe the gift was a complete “misfit” for the one to whom it was given. Giving and receiving gifts can be a tricky business; and how about those “free trial offers,” presented throughout the year? You know those that last for seven days or even a month. {They’re of course expecting you to forget about cancelling the arrangement at the end of the trial, thereby collecting payment, if you’re forgetful, for a gift or service you never intended to keep)! Does not this phenomenon in some ways remind you of the rejection many have for the greatest Gift
ever given?—that of salvation at Christ’s expense?
Undoubtedly the best gifts are given by one who truly knows our needs and what would delight our heart. That said, I am persuaded that our Creator God, beholding our deepest need and knowing better than we what will provide the truest, most enduring delight in this life and hereafter, offers the Gift of Christ to the human heart. Sadly, however, so many souls fail to recognize the value of receiving Christ as their Lord and Savior. They steer clear of even exploring the gift; they never get around to examining the wondrous claims of this uniquely extraordinary Gift—both temporal and eternal!
The God of heaven reveals that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and yet we must not forget that the Gift of eternal salvation is not ours unless we indeed receive it. I trust, dear reader, that you have not dismissed the Person of Christ and His redemptive work on the cross as “good for someone else” instead of receiving Him as your OWN Savior and Lord. Your eternal destination is at stake!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for opening our spiritual ears to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ at the time appointed by You. Thank You for giving us a heart to receive Him as Lord of our lives, for so You chose us to receive this “indescribable Gift” before the foundation of the world! Your marvelous name be praised. Amen!
By Sis. Denise Diggs
ever given?—that of salvation at Christ’s expense?
Undoubtedly the best gifts are given by one who truly knows our needs and what would delight our heart. That said, I am persuaded that our Creator God, beholding our deepest need and knowing better than we what will provide the truest, most enduring delight in this life and hereafter, offers the Gift of Christ to the human heart. Sadly, however, so many souls fail to recognize the value of receiving Christ as their Lord and Savior. They steer clear of even exploring the gift; they never get around to examining the wondrous claims of this uniquely extraordinary Gift—both temporal and eternal!
The God of heaven reveals that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and yet we must not forget that the Gift of eternal salvation is not ours unless we indeed receive it. I trust, dear reader, that you have not dismissed the Person of Christ and His redemptive work on the cross as “good for someone else” instead of receiving Him as your OWN Savior and Lord. Your eternal destination is at stake!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for opening our spiritual ears to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ at the time appointed by You. Thank You for giving us a heart to receive Him as Lord of our lives, for so You chose us to receive this “indescribable Gift” before the foundation of the world! Your marvelous name be praised. Amen!
By Sis. Denise Diggs
Archive
2026
2025
January
Prayer For A New Year 2025Prayer for A Heart Like Christ’sA PRAYER FOR HELP WITH OUR FAITHA Prayer of RepentanceA Prayer to Press OnPrayer For a Fragile Next GenerationPrayer For an Open HeartA Prayer For EndurancePrayer of Praise From the RedeemedPrayer For True EnlightenmentA Prayer: God is Waiting in the New YearSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellPrayer That Celebrates God’s WorkPrayer To See Things God’s WayPrayer of Thanks for God’s Keeping PowerPrayer When Faith is Tested: Accepting God’s WillPrayer of Dedication to Our LordA Prayer of Appreciation and WorshipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellPrayer For Humble LivingPrayer for Greater Faith to Live for GodPrayer Against Our FeelingsPrayer to the ONE Who Knows All ThingsPrayer For Sight in the Midst of LossPrayer to be Better Lovers of All Kinds of PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellPrayer of Rekindled PraisePrayer According to Your WillPrayer for the Generations to ComePrayer For the Benefits of PrayerPrayer For a Fresh Awareness of the HOLY SPIRIT
February
The Celebration of Jerusalem’s Deliverance: The Festival of LightsSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS WITH Pastor Wayne CockrellThe Gift of ForgivenessGreat Love Requires DisciplineFrom The 2024 Vault: We Must VoteHow Does God Love?Running Our RaceA Prayer of Thanksgiving to GodSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHeart to Heart with GodWill You Be Mine?Birthday Gifts for Pastor Wayne Cockrell.The Discipline of GodStop In the Name of LoveSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellApple of God’s EyeOne Thing NeededStriving Side by SideWhat’s Love Got to Do With It?An Unshakable LoveHis Love and Our WorkSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellAnchored in a Storm by the WordRenewing Your MindI’m Delighted in the LordWe are FamilyFAITH, ALIVE
March
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2 Comments
Amen and Amen ??. He is the greatest gift one can give. Thank you sister Diggs for this devotional ??!
Amen! Amen !