Advent - Day 22 - Perfect Gift-Giving

I have chosen a different devotional for the remainder of Advent. It is rich.
It is titled "Every Good Gift" and is written fully by Compassion Canada
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It is probably safe to say that the world around you has been thinking about, purchasing, wrapping, and giving gifts to one another. 'Tis the season, right? Christmas is a time of gift-giving. Often, we approach this season guarding our hearts from materialism and bolstering ourselves to not miss the true reason for the season in the hustle and bustle. But perhaps this Christmas we can use the hustle and bustle around us to remind us of two precious truths:

Gifts are an expression of love

and

God is a gift-giver.

Certainly, gift-giving can get out of hand at this time of year. Stress and delivery dates, budgets, expectations, and shopping trips can all drain the joy out of gift-giving. But, if we take a moment to truly think about why we give gifts, we can see that it is an expression of love for those in our lives. At the very least, it is acknowledging one another through an act of generosity. When we realize the incredible power of gifts to express love to others, it can inspire joy in the practice once again.

Not only are gifts an expression of our love, but they can also be a way to reflect the heart of God to others. God Himself is a gift-giver. In fact, that is what Christmas celebrates. God gave lavishly to the world when He gave us Jesus. All through this Advent season we have been unwrapping the good gifts that God gave us in Jesus—gifts such as hope, peace and joy. We have also taken time to consider how we can give those gifts to others. Why? Because if we want to reflect the heart of God in the world, we have to love like Him.

James 1:17 tells us where every good gift truly comes from: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

... As we get nearer to Christmas Day, let’s remember that a gift expresses love and reflects the heart of God to others. It can be more than a present. It can be a reminder of God’s love in a broken world.

Prayer:

God, 

        Thank You for Your good and perfect gifts in my life. In this moment, I pause and remember the greatest gift of all—Jesus. May I remember that You gave Your Son because You loved me. Help me to reframe my thinking this Christmas to see gift-giving as a way of reflecting Your love to the world around me. Show me the gifts You would have me give in order to love people well. Amen.

Giving Gifts

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

1st Corinthians 12:7 NLT

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 

1st Peter 4:10 NIV

At this time of year, we often spend lots of time, energy and resources trying to find just the right gift for our loved ones. It's a great delight for some and a study in frustration for others. Delight has to do with our perspective of the holiday and our love for others; frustration has much to do with how we perceive ourselves as gift finders and probably even more to do with how we think we'll be perceived by those to whom we give gifts.

Step away from all of that for a moment, and let's focus on the best gifts - those we have received from God. The first and best is Jesus Christ, our salvation. Following that is each other - Romans 12:5 tells us ...so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.  So, you're a gift to me and vice versa. Rounding it off are the gifts we've been given to share in serving and helping each other. 

Paul tells us in Romans 12, In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 

Oh, that we would be the bearer of gifts that keep on giving what God intended to give!

Prayer:

Father,

           When Your people are in need, give us eyes to see and hearts that will be ready to help them. Let us always be eager to practice hospitality. Help us to bless those who persecute us. Lord, teach us to be happy with those who are happy, and to weep with those who weep. Help us to live in harmony with each other, and to do all that we can to live in peace with everyone. And to use the gifts You have given us to help and serve others. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen