A SEASON OF GIVING
SCRIPTURE: ISAIAH 9:6 (NKJV)
”For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
The Christmas season is one reminder to us that God gave us a Saviour who is Christ Jesus. Jesus is God’s gift to a lost world. Indeed, God did this out of His love for mankind. John’s gospel, the chapter 3, verse 16 says; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (NKJV)
As a believer in Christ Jesus you have received the nature of God. This happens at the point of receiving Christ Jesus as Saviour and Lord. Romans 5, verse 5, is proof: ”Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”-NKJV
The child of God is therefore a recipient and custodian of God’s love. To know that you have the divine capacity to love like God did is a mighty experience. This clearly confirms how your Father’s nature and character is working in and through you.
Why is this so? So that you and I can be ministers of the same divine love. We therefore have the responsibility to minister the same love unconditionally to one another and, especially, to the world of unbelievers. God calls us to be a source of blessing both to our fellow believers and to others through our show of love to them. Jesus taught in Matthew 10, verse 8 that, ” ..freely you have received, freely give.” (NJKV)
For us believers, there is no excuse for not doing this. This love of God in us means we have been positioned to be givers. Christmas is just a day away. Rather than expecting to receive from others, which is not bad, determine even more, during this season to walk in this love and to be a giver, unconditionally. Most of the time, the degree to which we are able to give to others will determine the degree to which we ourselves will receive from others.
I want to recommend to you 5 practical ways to help you extend love to someone during this Christmas season.
- Seek out a forgotten friend.
- Encourage someone who is emotionally “down”.
- Look for an opportunity to be generous to someone.
- Pray for someone who once helped you in your time of need.
- Share the gospel of Christ Jesus with someone.
Remember that it’s more blessed to give than to receive. A merry Christmas and a glorious new year to you.
I bless you Father for the upcoming Christmas season. Thank you for the opportunity to grow into the fulness and stature of Christ Jesus, my Lord, in all things. I determine to respond to your love which constrains me from within to also love and minister to someone else in these times. Thank you for your grace, wisdom and discernment as I walk in love practically, in Jesus name, Amen.
FURTHER READING (NKJV)
ROMANS 8:31-37
[31]What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
[32]He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
[33]Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
[34]Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
[35]Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
[36]As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
[37]Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.