This month we will look at the gifts of God and the beautiful contexts we find them located inside. We are so blessed to have the word of God and the treasures contained in it which helps us to navigate our lives to the glory and honor of Him who sent His Son. The scriptures are filled with various ideas of “gifts” and we would do well to study them this month (or any other month of the year).

God’s word speaks of Jesus as a gift from God Himself. Paul would say this, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.” (2 Cor. 9.15). He would say this in the context of the Corinthians giving their gift of benevolence to  the brethren  in Judea for  the misfortune experienced due to the famine (Acts 11.27-30), showing Christ as a better gift to any physical blessing. Furthermore, as it relates to the functions in the church of Christ, Paul would write about the gift of Christ to the church. In Ephesians 3.7 and 4.7, Paul would refer to the apostolic office and say it was “according to the gift of the grace of God…”. Just as Christ was given as a gift to the world, He would give gifts to the church to aid it in the work of God.

The actual phrase “Gift of God” is used some six (6) times in the New Testament and is also worthy of us considering. Jesus was talking to the woman at the well and challenged her to take a deeper look at who was speaking to her for clarity and spiritual purposes (John 4.10). If she knew who was speaking to her, perhaps she would have asked for something more lasting and eternal. This is a great lesson for us as well. Perhaps if we thought more on things above and not things below, we would seek Jesus and His will more than we do (Col. 3.1-3).

In Acts 8.20, Simon the sorcerer thought he could purchase the gift of God with money. What was the gift of God in this context? The gift of God was the Holy Spirit’s power according to verse nineteen (19). Notice Simon’s words, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”. We can know for a fact the gift of God in this context is different from others. Let it never be the case of us attempting to sell out or position ourselves to benefit in such an ungodly way. By the way, Simon was rebuked sharply for his conduct and he immediately repented of such thinking and behavior (Acts 8.22-24).

We can go on and on with examples of the phrase “The Gift of God” and we will at a later time. However, we should go on to perfection and speak of some other ideas on this subject. In James 1.17, he says these words, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”. Brethren, everything good is from God, because God is good according to Psalms 73.1. One of the gifts we are privileged to enjoy is the grace of God, spoken of by Paul in Ephesian chapter two. He said these words, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” (Eph. 2.8). What a blessing to be in the church of Christ, which is part of the gift given to us as humanity.

Humanity did not deserve such a blessing from God, in that He sent the Word (who is God and was with God) to become flesh for our salvation (John 1.1, 14). It is through Him we have eternal life and because of Him we can go to the Father of spirits (John 14.6; Heb. 12.9). Immanuel, which is interpreted “God with us,” loved us enough to leave the portals of heaven and put on physical time to give us an opportunity to live in the eternal realm with God (Phil. 2.6-11). With this being said, we should seek to live for the One who died for us (2 Cor. 5.14-15). Just as Jesus denied Himself, we are instructed and commanded to deny ourselves as well and follow Jesus (Luke 9.23).

In conclusion, there are so many gifts in scripture and we will explore more as time permits. Let us remember that this time of the year is not for the commercialization of giving gifts only, but rather remembering one another to the glory of God. May God be glorified in all we do and say. The greatest gift we can give to someone is the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 3.6). May God bless us in all things.