A Gift That Keeps On Giving

“Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!”– 2 Corinthians 9:15.  

This is the time of year when we are concerned about choosing just the right Christmas gifts to give to the special people in our lives. But let me ask you, have you ever received a gift too wonderful for words? Have you ever received a gift that was beyond description? God with us is such a gift. 

In the sermon series “God With Us” we have been talking about God’s ultimate gift to us, Jesus Christ.  God packaged the gift of Himself in human flesh.  Jesus Christ is God’s ultimate gift to mankind.   

The gift of God with us is not limited to the holidays, however.  It is a gift that keeps on giving. If I were to ask you, “How are you planning to enjoy this coming year,” the answers would equal the number of people asked. But how would you answer the question: How do we enjoy the gift of God with us year round? 

It starts with scripture. If we want to experience the power of God with us, we must love, know, embrace, memorize, quote and use the word of God.  In the final book of the Bible, Revelation 1:3, John tells us that there is “blessing” for anyone who reads God’s word. “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” If we want to experience God with us all year long, then we need to immerse ourselves in Him through immersing ourselves in His word. 

Secondly, we experience God with us when we mix our lives together as the people of God in church and in small groups. In other words, when we do life together as believers. Doing life together is far more than just sitting next to each other on Sundays and engaging in some small talk before or after the service. It is actually connecting our hearts and lives together in ways that enable us to experience Jesus Christ through our relationships with each other.  

This year look for ways to do life together. One day it might be a quick phone conversation.  It might mean a minute, an hour or a day of prayer together with others.  It might be a shared cup of coffee or lunch. Whenever we experience a touch of God through the life of a brother or sister in Christ, that is enjoying God’s ultimate gift of Himself. 

Make the ultimate gift of God with us a gift that keeps giving year round.   

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you put the gift of God with us in perspective? 
2. What can you do in 2019 to make this gift year round?