Do you love receiving gifts? 🎁

Most of my family and friends love to receive gifts. Christmas, Easter, birthdays and anniversaries are excuses for my wife and me to give gifts, hugs and words of affirmation. I believe we were designed by God to give and receive gifts. It’s normal and divine.

Do you love to give and receive gifts? The Bible says, “the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35, NIV) Is this how you feel? Is it easier for you to give or receive? I’ve got to admit that I love both. 

When I received Christ many years ago, I discovered something incredible about God. He loves to give us gifts. The Bible says, “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.” (James 1:17, NKJV) 

That is not the faith I inherited or the view of God I had as a child. For many years, I saw God as distant, angry and even disapproving of me. Eventually, I lost the little faith I had and drifted into discouragement and depression. 

What is your faith journey? Can you relate to what I’m sharing?

Can you imagine the surprise I felt when Campus Crusade for Christ staff members shared this with me? ““For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

I thought to myself, “Really? No way. It sounds too good to be true.” They quoted John 10:10: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10, NKJV) I pondered that. “There’s a thief? There’s really a devil? And Jesus wants to give me the abundant life?” Wow! That sounded like a fantasy novel. Maybe that’s why the gospel means the Good News. 

Do you believe this good news? The Bible says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, NKJV) 

God wants to give you gifts because He loves you, and He wants to see you succeed. He’s your loving Father. He’s cheering you on. He wants to give you gifts because He’s a rewarder, and He wants to give you so many gifts because you’re a miracle.

Paul Marc Goulet

P.S. The texts of this reading come from the daily email A Miracle Every Day. If you want to receive an email every day, I invite you to  subscribe to A Miracle Every Day  . By subscribing, you will receive an E-book!