The Gift

I did not write out the passages used in this presentation because I have found that the journey is as valued as the lesson I have learned. I hope you will take the time to look them up as you go and enjoy the journey as much as I did. 

Eph: 2:8,9
For by grace you have been saved by faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.

I believe that one of the greatest gifts bestowed upon mankind is the grace of God. It differs from other gifts in that it is given by both God the Father and from Christ. 2Cor: 1:2, Gal: 1:6 and Rom:5:15.

When someone gives me a gift, I want to give back. Most of the time, a knick-knack or thank you card is sufficient, however, this is no toaster oven from an obscure friend or relative. This is a gift from my Father in heaven who surpasses all in His love for us. This makes shopping for that thank you note a little tough. After all, He is truly the one who has everything! So, I sat down and did some soul searching (here we go again) and after a not so long time I decided that my gift should be something that would truly draw me closer to God. I lack humility. It is not a particular character flaw of mine. It is just that I did not understand what having humility means. Like any good Christian, I went to the book, and books on the book. I searched hard and I looked deep and I realized that my sense of what true humility means and does was sorely lacking.

I did not have to look hard for an example of humility. Jesus Himself sets the best example of all. Matt:11:29. Paul asks us to follow this example in Phi 2:1-11. I also have to understand that I don't deserve the gift of grace or God's unconditional love and I did nothing and can do nothing to earn it. That is what makes grace the perfect gift. I have nothing of my own and all my possessions, all my talents or natural abilities are of God. I am not my own but, in Christ, I am God's. Even in love we have to exhibit humility. 1Cor 13:4.  A humble mind is the foundation for all virtue.

At first I thought, "This sounds easy enough" but it is not. Human Nature dictates that it is not so. It is hard to be truly humble. I have to be careful not to fall into false humility. Col 2:18,23. But in a way, I am glad that it is difficult. Because that makes it a worthy gift to try and give to God.