God Gives

I’ve been thinking recently about all the things that God has given us and is still giving us. The list is endless, and there are so many scriptures that speak to us about all these gifts. I cannot write them all in this Seed, but here are some of them to meditate on.

First is that well-known verse in John 3:16: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

And then God has given us the right to become His children. “To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

There may be times when we feel we haven’t enough faith, or any faith at all. But look at this! “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand” (Ephesians 2:8-10. Faith is a gift to be received from our loving heavenly Father.

Jesus was sent for us. He gave Himself for us on the cross to take away our sins. Through His death we have been given everlasting life, forgiveness of sins, healing of our sicknesses and wounds, and a way back to our Father God. “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

Jesus paid the full price for all our sins. He bore the wrath of God in our place so that we could receive His righteousness. Yes, righteousness is a gift from God. It cannot be earned. Paul the apostle learned this! “I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ” (Philippians 3:8-9).

So, we are back to faith, which is God’s gift. But there’s so much more that God gives. He gives grace, strength, endurance, encouragement, repentance, forgiveness, but, best of all, His Holy Spirit who is always with us and lives in us to guide us, comfort us, and reveal more of the Lord Jesus to us. God pours out His love into our hearts through His Holy Spirit.

It’s been such a blessing for me to think about God’s many gifts to me, and to all of us, His children, and I pray that you will be encouraged as you think on these things.