Christian Living

---

Think back to an occasion where you received gifts. What gifts did you get? What gifts did you receive in past years that have stood out in your mind?

I remember a time years ago when I received a gift from a friend. This was a close friend who had moved out of the area. I received the gift, I noticed the postmark, then the address. I was excited to receive something from them. I thanked the UPS delivery person, and went to tearing open the package. Under the brown paper there was colorful wrapping paper, and under the wrapping paper was a cardboard box that was also taped closed.

All this added to my excitement as I finally got to the gift. It was something that I needed, and even something that showed the friend knew me, and remembered something specific about me. However do you know what I did? I put the gift aside looked again through the wrapping, checked the box again, and looked to see if I’d missed it. Do you know what I was looking for?

I was looking for a card with a sentiment. I was looking for a hand written note. I was looking for some kind of communication.
I desired to hear from my friend more than I wanted a gift!

Well there wasn’t a card and so I called.
I found out they had realized after they mailed the gift that the card was still at home. The card arrived a few days later. There was a long note inside. I enjoyed the note, and the short phone conversation so much. The conversation also gave the gift additional meaning. When I looked at the gift I’d remember the whole occurrence again, and smile. Honestly, it sounds like something I could have done.

Sometimes we don’t realize how much we desire communication with God. We carry one-way conversations where we ask for God’s gifts. Sometimes He even gives them in the expectation of hearing our praise, and our thanks, our communication.

Instead we revel in the gift. Somewhere inside of us we desire communication, so you know what we often do? We pray for another gift. It is God who is the true gift. The fact that Jesus opened the doors of Heaven for us is the most wonderful thing we can know. Ultimately we desire to connect with God. We desire to ask, “How did you know just what I needed when even I didn’t know?” We search looking past all the things “of God” for a personal note "from God". God’s personal note to us is the Bible. Combined with prayer, and the guiding of the spirit God’s holy communication lines are always open.

When we receive a gift from God it is conversation with Him that gives it meaning, and direction. He desires to tell us why He chose that gift for us. He will show us what He had in mind when He selected it. He wants us to appreciate all the divine thought that went into it.

Gifts are wonderful, but they only start to reveal the wonderful one.
We able to converse with God of the universe, what a wonderful gift!


"I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge." (Psalm 18:1-2). NIV

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE