SO there it sits. The biggest present under the tree. The biggest gift brought to the birthday party. The long awaited thrill at the end. We usually save it...we want to savor it. Make it last. Prolong the enjoyment.
So we save it for last.
God however, didn't do that.
He gave us His best, first.
And everything else that follows, is really just a bonus.
What was the best, that we got first? His name is Jesus.
His gift was salvation that came in the form of Jesus.
But that was over 2000 years ago. I didn't even get to see that... (My flesh said)
But my Spirit counters with unexplainable joy that reinstates what scripture says to me.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have ETERNAL life. " John 3:16
Please don't miss this. What implications does this have for us and how should this affect our daily living. Does it affect our daily living?
I'll tell you what I have been processing in regards to this...
Over the past few days I have been focusing a lot what I have been praying for. How I pray, and what I ask for reflect how I really perceive the truth that HE has already given me His best.
If I believe that He has already given me His very best, I will pray with a thankful heart. Even when my circumstances would otherwise cause me to be less than thankful. It's the reason that Paul and Silas could sing while being chained in prison. It's the reason that a widow who loves Jesus can smile through her tears of grief. Because she knows without a shadow of a doubt that #1 her future rests secure, and also that her Father has already given her His best.
What I have been telling myself is this:
Even if I never receive a single earthly blessing, I am still considered the most blessed. Why? Because I have been accepted into His eternal Kingdom. Not by anything that I have done, but by the grace of God. (Ephesians 2:8,9)
I am blessed because He gave me Jesus.
I am covered by His promise.
What's in a promise really? It's the assurance that something will take place. It's an oath that future follow through will come. I have His promise of eternal life. I have His promise of redemption for my sins. I have His promise that I am fully covered by His grace. That's quite a promise.
And still I allow my heart to become disheartened by outward circumstances, things that I wish were different, and desperately searching for more promise from Him. MORE PROMISE? How could I? I've been given the best gift first. The biggest, shiniest, purest and most lovely gift has already been given to me. I have it in my possession!!! Or Rather, I am possessed by it!
God has been teaching me throughout the years in varying degrees of understanding in regards to this truth that surrounds His promise. His ultimate promise. There is a reason people use the phrase, "That was the ultimate!!" implying, it does not get any better.
Jesus is the ultimate. The gift and promise of eternal life is the ultimate gift. The rest, anything that may follow, is just icing on a tiny cake. It still tastes good, but it pales in comparison to the gift we just opened.
Does God still give us good things on this earth? Yes He does. Why? Because HE is a loving Father who likes to see His children enjoy good things HE gives them.
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:11)
But it's not the extras that make us content. It's not the hope for the stocking stuffers that bring the real and ultimate smile to our face. NO. It's the gift we received that exceeded our wildest dreams.
In conclusion I would say this: my hope, does not lie in what God will give me for I know that God already gave me the ultimate gift. Jesus. And for every day from here until the day He calls me home I get the opportunity to experience, enjoy and get to know my gift better. It is the gift that is better understood over time, because the gift will change us and make us more and more like the giver. We often receive this gift without really understanding the great cost of the gift. But as we grow to know the gift and the giver more and more, we are drawn to live a life in thankfulness to Him. For we see what it cost, and we see how precious it is.
SO here is this gift.
And what can I say but thank you? I live my life in thanks, offering all I am, for it's all I have. Knowing, what HE gave, is the best I will EVER receive.
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