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A Glory Seed Devotional
The giftedness of giving…
I am not sure exactly when the official Christmas shopping season began because many stores opened Thanksgiving Day but whether it was yesterday or today, Black Friday it is here. And with this coming Sunday, the First Sunday of Advent the Christmas Worship season gets underway. One of the things both seasons have in common is giving gifts. During the shopping stores are filled with people looking for just the right gift to give a loved one or a friend. During the worship season people are anticipating and celebrating the God given gift of Jesus.
Over the years much has been said about the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas time. I hope giving gifts never becomes a tradition for me. I see tradition as a fancy word for habit. While I want to develop within me good habits giving gifts in not one of them. I want to always give gifts for the same reason God gave me the gift of Jesus. God gave me (and you) Jesus out of his love, Jesus gave his life to me (and you) and for me (and you) out of this love. Together they’ve wrapped me in the giftedness of the Holy Spirit and there are no greater gifts.
During this Christmas Shopping Season consider this, “God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them!” (John 3:16–17, CEV) Use LOVE not tradition as your motivator. Giving gifts to others out of love is one way of honoring and worshipping God.
And don’t forget… “If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated.” (Luke 6:38, CEV)
Anticipate! Experience! Believe! Be transformed!
Grace and PEACE, Amen!
Gary
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Jesus said, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.” (John 8:12, CEV)
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Scriptures marked CEV, “Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.”
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