Good morning, friends.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 11:17, “If then God gave the same gift to them as He gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
Little more describes this time of year than do gifts. Having just enjoyed Thanksgiving, you were no doubt mindful of all you have been blessed with. And now heading towards Christmas, much time, energy and money will have been spent on gifts of all kinds once the 25th arrives. Matthew Henry was a British pastor who is best known for his exhaustive biblical commentaries that he published around 1710. In his diary, he made this entry one evening after having been robbed of his wallet on the way home. “I am thankful that he never robbed me before. I am thankful that although he took my wallet, he did not take my life. Although he took all that I had, it was not much. I am glad that it was I who was robbed, not I who did the robbing.” In that recollection, we hear the heart of gratitude that Henry possessed. Even in distress, he was inclined to find the gifts from God present in a dreadful incident. Perhaps it had something to do with losing four of his children while they were infants, when he had to no doubt wrestle with God and His claims of goodness and grace amidst death and heartbreak. Maybe it was in his darkest hour that he experienced what only God could provide and that which enabled him to know God in the fullest of ways.
But tragedy is not necessary for you and I to have our eyes opened to all the gifts that God pours out each day. And like the blessings found in a mugging, His gifts can be and are present in the most unlikely of circumstances. You may remember when Paul wrote in Romans 1 of the depths to which mankind sank, he said it began by them knowing God but refusing to honor Him and give thanks to Him. So our lack of thankfulness for the gifts all around us is not only a sign of our inability or unwillingness to see God’s hand working in all things, it is a dangerous slope that can carry us far away from the giver of all good and perfect gifts. You will be reminded this season that gifts come in all shapes and sizes. I urge you to look for them in all situations and circumstances, too. Much has been given to you, and much is required, beginning with thanks to the God of glory.
As we seek Him today, make every effort to find a gift in every single circumstance, and thank God for it.
Have a blessed Wednesday.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
