Jesus GAVE...

I was looking through some of my photos and came across this one from last year of Claire and Judah getting ready to open a large present.  It is easy to remember how excited they were to discover what was inside the gift.  They were able to pause for a minute to take this picture, but soon after, the wrapping paper would be shredded into a thousand pieces as they ripped open their gift.  This picture reminds me of 1 Corinthians 2:12...
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God


We often think about all of the wonderful things that Christ did for us.  He redeemed us.  He healed us.  He saved us.  He has done more than we could ever begin to list.  But in charting all of the wonderful things He has done for us, do we take the time to think about what he has "freely given to us..." and why He has given us these gifts?  

We have been given new life (1 Peter 1:3), spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 13), revelation (1 Corinthians 2:10-12), good news (Mark 16:18-20), the ministry of reconciliation (1 Corinthians 5:11-21), the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead (Romans 8:11) and more than we could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:19-21).  

We have been given all of these gifts... Why???  To keep to ourselves?  To go to heaven when we die?  NO!!!  It is for us to share with others.  Freely we have received... It is time for us to give to others (Matt. 10:5-8).  How can we use what The Father has given to us through Jesus to help others?  Who is in your life that needs to know the power of Jesus and what He has done in you?  Let's give to others today. 

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