2003-12-27 - Passages About Our Gifts For God

Encore from 2000-12-27

For most of us, celebrating Christmas this week included exchanging gifts. Presents can be a wonderful expression of love and appreciation. Some of us are materially wealthy, while some of us can barely afford to "make ends meet." But all the gifts that God expects of us, are well within our means. Today we will look at some of what the Bible has to say about the gifts we can offer God:

The gift of caring for the children who need us:

Matthew 18:4-5 (NASB) Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me.

The gifts of helping "the least of these-" sharing food, drink, and hospitality - and visiting those who are ill and in prison:

Matthew 25:37-40 (NASB) Then the righteous will answer Him, "Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?" The King will answer and say to them, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me."

The gift of our material wealth for God's Kingdom:

Matthew 22:19-21 (NASB) "Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.'' And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?'' They said to Him, "Caesar's.'' Then He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's.''

Abilities for use in the local church and the world:

1 Cor. 12:7-11 (NASB) But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

The gift of our bodies in service of God:

Romans 12:1 (NASB) Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

In fact, we belong completely to God; He purchased us with the life of His Son:

1 Cor. 6:19-20 (NASB) Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

Jan

 jan@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org