What do we do with the gifts?
This past Sunday, we celebrated what many Christians believe is the most important event of the Christian faith…
Easter.
Or perhaps you refer to this sacred day as Resurrection Day. By either title, we are remembering, rejoicing over, and praising our risen Savior. But, prior to the Resurrection of our Lord, there were tragic events. He was unjustly arrested, falsely accused, scorned, and horribly beaten.
Jesus Christ was crucified.
Our Lord Jesus willingly sacrificed himself on the cross, taking the burden of our sins upon himself, thus granting us the gift of eternal life.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26
What a gift!
And, as if the giving of His life out of love for us wasn’t enough, Jesus has bestowed upon us numerous other gifts.
The gift of salvation…
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24
The gift of light…
“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say. John 12: 46, 49-50
The gift of love…
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
The gift of the Father…
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him. John 14:6
The gift of heaven…
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? John 14:1-2
As we recognize the enormity of the gifts we received from our Savior, what is our response? What will we do here on Earth to honor Him for the love?
- Will we love others as Jesus loves us?
- Will we give of ourselves to others, putting their needs before our own?
- Will we share the Good News and tell others the pathway to the Father is through Jesus?
- By exhibiting the behaviors that Jesus demonstrated, will we be a light in the darkness?
As Christians, we are called to be like Christ. We can honor Him and His gifts to us by being like Him in our interactions with others. We can be loving and kind in service to others. We can strive to be a witness for Jesus in all aspects of our lives. While we aren’t the path to the Father, we can share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others to help them find the path to the Father.
As we work together through this pandemic, we’ve seen people in fear and in need of a helping hand. We’ve observed many acts of kindness posted on social media. We’ve been on the receiving end of goodness and on the giving side. You might even have a story to share with us in the comments.
Thank you for those convicting questions! It’s so easy right now to want to hoard away the gifts God has given us. But you are so right in reminding us of the importance of sharing what God has given us with others! Happy Easter!
Thank you for your encouragement, Emily. There is so much we can do for others, even when we are “sheltering in place.” I agree that we sometimes “hoard” our gifts–often without realizing it. I pray that when this is all over, we will all be more willing to share those gifts in Christ’s love. Wishing you a blessed week.
What a wonderful question we should ask ourselves at the end of each day; “What have I done with the wonderful gifts God has bestowed upon me?” A great moment for reflection my friend. I loved how you listed the gifts God brought with Him when He came to earth as Christ Jesus. The greatest gift is promised, but yet to come. Eternity with our Creator and Lord. Oh how I look forward to receiving that gift. As grateful as I am for family, life, friends, and all the wonderful gifts that have been so freely given to me; I anticipate receiving God’s greatest gift one day soon.
I’m with you, my friend. It’s wonderful that we can look forward to God’s greatest gift. I’m also comforted and reassured that our loved ones are also loved by God and kept safe within the protection of His loving embrace.
What wonderful gifts he gives us! Great reminders backed up with evidence. Your questions are especially important during this strange time when we’re tempted to self-focus.
In times of trial and heartbreak, we do tend to self-focus. It’s interesting that tonight, in our online Bible Study, “Sustaining Victories.” we discussed this very thing in relation to discouragement. One of the strategies for overcoming discouragement was to encourage others, even when we don’t feel like it. Many are in despair during this pandemic. Thank you for reminding us to reach out to them.
Katherine, what a wonderful post! You created a beautiful list of some of Jesus’ gifts and then reminded us to use them. Thank you.
Thank you for your encouragement, Jeannie. Sometimes in the darkest of trials, I sometimes forget the infinitely of the love our Lord has for me, for all of us. Then I hear that soft whisper of love, the Light shines through the darkness of fear, and dawn breaks with the gfte of faith and hope. Thank you for brightening my day!