Plainly put, a GIFT is something acquired without any expectation of compensation in return. Gifts cannot be earned, deserved or won in a lottery. A pure gift has no strings attached even though the recipient usually responds by wanting to bless, please or a least praise and thank the giver. In the case of God’s GIFT of Himself, the very fact of His presence in a life means that the recipient will think, speak and act in new ways. It cannot be helped, and those changes are in themselves gifts — offered back to Him.
The Bible is clear that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17) This verse suggests that because God does not vary or change, the gifts He gives are perfect also in that they reflect who He is. While they may differ at varying times of life and in varying needs and circumstances, all that comes from God can be depended on, just as God can be depended on.
Yet Christians are warned not to focus on the gifts more than we focus on the Giver, not to get wrapped up in the delight of the good life or anything else lest those things become our god. This can happen with any part of the abundant life we are promised — from material blessings, taking pleasure in our work, or the delight of relationships. He is the source of all that is good and perfect, the Gift to worship and be thankful for, to take the highest place in my heart.
A strong statement of God being a gift to us is related to the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2:38, Peter said: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Later, that same gift was “poured out on the Gentiles” and all who believed. With Him came spiritual gifts which enable the people of God to have God’s attitudes and do the actions that reflect Him to the world around us. We could not do that apart from having Him living in us. These gifts are rich in their variety and application and made possible by the grace of God who makes a home in our hearts.
God living in His people begins with salvation. It is a gift that comes wrapped up in a Person . . .
Romans 6:23. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Eternal life is in Christ just as 1 John 5:11 says: “This is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” The gift of life is the gift of Jesus, God the Son. He is the gift!
GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. Seeing Jesus as a gift from God should never be taken lightly or presumed without any sense of awe. This gift means everything and even my next breath depends on Him. Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!
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