| ............ | A Word In Due Season Dec 2024 12/2/24 THINGS VALUED Scripture: Proverbs 15:6 "In the house of the righteous is much treasure." I can remember a time in my life when you never saw a penny tossed away on the ground because it actually had significant value. Even though my family did not have much materially, we never seemed to be poor because we had the same as those around us. It was just after World War II and things were scarce for everyone. When we got a penny for bubble gum, we were thrilled. We would chew the gum during the day then place it on a saucer at night and cover it with a drinking glass. The next day, we were allowed to dip it in sugar to sweeten it up. This was a real treat because sugar was rationed. Can you imagine the joy of a penny being stretched so far in today’s economy? When I started school, things were better, and we were given nickels to spend and the penny began to lose some of its value. With a nickel you could either buy a nourishing mid-morning snack or in the afternoon get a cola from the new soda machine. Eventually, the cost of colas went from a nickel to six cents, and this caused the worth of the penny to increase because it was again needed. Today, pennies are almost worthless. That is, except for the precious words inscribed on them that remind us, "In God we trust." How many things in our lives have become like the penny? The relationships that we once viewed as valuable and precious are now taken for granted. We have friendships that we are too busy to make time for and family members who suffer neglect because of our busy careers. The jobs that we desperately sought after have turned into mundane labor and brought on extra stress. Our passions for our spouse whom we once held dear may have dwindled. As time has passed the values of our hearts have been altered and things once precious are now neglected. We are driven by the need to prosper and succeed and have lost sight of the true treasures of life, which are basically free. Solomon said there is much treasure in the house of the righteous. We need to think about his statement and allow this season to remind us to look around and focus on the blessings that we have, for there are hidden treasures all about us. We must place value on those things that are more important than the wealth that can be measured in dollars and cents. If we know God and have family, friends, love, health, food, clothing, freedom, and can truthfully declare “In God We Trust” we are blessed beyond measure. We must recognize that within the walls of our own home and relationships, there is much treasure. We should be thankful for these blessings and reflect on their value, for where our treasure is there is our heart also. +++ 12/3/24 DRAWING NEAR TO GOD Scripture: James 4:8 "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." This is a wonderful promise and so simply stated. God promises us a personal one-on-one relationship with Him. How many other very important and powerful people have made this promise to you? Very few, I am sure. Yet because of our hectic schedules and limited time, most of us do not exercise our option to enter into the Lord's presence on a daily basis for any great length of time. We spend a few minutes with a devotional, say a short prayer, and then we are off to meet the day's challenges. We promise to spend more time with the Lord later, but when the day is finished, we are exhausted and just too tired. Those in scripture who spent time with God knew Him intimately and those who knew Him intimately had great power with Him. Even the Sanhedrin marveled and took notice of Peter and John because they recognized that Peter and John had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). The Prophet Elijah was a man of fervent and earnest prayer and his relationship with God resulted in mighty miracles. These and other mighty men only knew God's heart because they spent time in His presence. They drew near to God and God drew near to them and manifested His power through them. Drawing near to God is a gradual process towards a place of intimacy with Him. One definition of "intimacy" is "into-me-see." It is only as you begin to pour out your inner most thoughts to God and allow Him to see inside of you that He responds and shares His most inner thoughts with you. Even our natural relationships show us this. We can only truly know those with whom we have solitary fellowship. Jesus told us in Matthew 6:6 to enter into our closet and shut the door when we talk to Him. Jesus wants us to fellowship with Him in secret so that He can speak to us in secret. He set the example for us several times in the scriptures as He, Himself, found solitary places to commune with the Father (Mark 1:35). Jesus drew near to God a great while before the day began and spent all night in God's presence. How close and intimate do you want to be to God? You are the one who will determine the depth of your relationship. Those who move towards God, evoke a response from Him. He gave the invitation and the pattern for us to enter into His presence. He said, "Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you." In other words, God says, you take a step towards Me, then I will respond and take a step towards you. Each step you take will draw you closer to the Lord. +++ 12/4/24 APPLE OF GOD'S EYE Scripture: Psalms 17:8 "Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings." The apple of the eye is the pupil, or the darkest part and very center of the eye. It is the most precious part of the eye because it lets the light in and allows the body to see. The eyes are very delicate and demand extreme care and protection, and if lost, the whole body suffers and is left handicapped. David knew the value of his own eyes and the lengths that he would go to in order to protect them, so he prayed and asked God to keep him as safe as God would the very apple of His own eye. The word 'keep' in this text meant to guard, protect, or hide like the eagle hides her young under her wings. In the natural, God made provisions to protect the human eyes. The eyes have eyelashes, eyebrows, and eyelids that guard against small things like dust, dirt, and smoke. The eyes are also deeply entrenched in the skull with bones around them to protect them from further injury. The arms and hands also act instinctively and spontaneously to guard the eyes if something harmful should come in their direction. The head will turn or duck and even the knees bend to lower the entire body to help the eyes get out of the way of injury. The entire body responds to protect this vital organ. Every member of the body would rather suffer injury itself than to allow its eyes to be damaged because it recognizes that the eyes are precious and irreplaceable. Just as David was kept as the apple of God's eye, so are you. You are a valuable part of God's body and kingdom, and just as you would protect your own eyes from harm, God is there to protect and guard you. If someone were to hit you in the eye, you would not try to hit them back with your eye. Your eye is not designed to fight for itself so the other parts of your body, like the arms and hands, would take up the eye's defense. In the spiritual realm, God is your defense. God's Word says that vengeance belongs to the Lord (Psalms 94:1). Zechariah 2:8 says, "For he that touches you touches the apple of God's eye." In other words, when others come against you, they are touching a very sensitive part of God and He will respond. Verse nine says that "God will shake His hand against those who touch you." When others come against you, you cannot fight your own battles, but God can fight for you. Your part is to simply shut your spiritual eyelids to the offense, leave things in God's hands, and pray for those who come against you. You are the apple of God's eyes, so rest in Him and allow Him to hide you under the shadow of His wings. +++ 12/5/24 OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN Scripture: Matthew 6:9 "Our Father, Which art in heaven." When Jesus taught His Disciples to pray, He revealed to them that God was their Father and declared that God was in Heaven. This statement was not made to establish God's address or whereabouts, for we know that He is omnipresent, meaning that He is everywhere at all times. These words “in Heaven” were meant to establish God’s authority, which exceeds the boundaries of this Earth. When Jesus said that God was in Heaven, He was in reality stating that God is still on the throne and that He is still in control of every situation. Jesus was informing His Disciples that God was not limited or confined to the laws of the world in which they lived. Our earthly fathers have property and homes and they are considered to be the head of that home and the owner of their territory. They have the right to exert authority over their home because this is their kingdom and their word is law in their personal domain. As we grow and mature as sons and daughters in that home, our fathers share their possessions. They give us the keys to their kingdoms, whether that kingdom is meager or grandiose. With this gesture comes the authority to use the keys and also the responsibility to honor the trust that has been extended. Likewise, as children of our Heavenly Father, we have been given the keys to His Kingdom. In Matthew 16:16-19, Jesus told His Disciples that He would build His church upon the revelation that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God. He said that those who receive that revelation would be given the keys to the Kingdom of God. When we pray, we should realize that we are talking to someone in Heaven. We are actually opening the doors of Heaven with the keys that Jesus has given to us and we are gaining access to the Father and all of the resources of His Kingdom. Like earthly keys, the spiritual keys that are given to us are efficient tools and they work regardless of how we feel. Keys never depend upon the emotions of the one holding the key. They just work and exercise their ability to lock and unlock or to open and close. When Jesus gave us His keys, He said that whatever we loose on Earth is loosed in Heaven, and whatever we bind on Earth is bound in Heaven. However, having the keys and using the keys are two different matters. We can find ourselves standing outside the Kingdom all day long, crying and yelling about our problems, or we can simply use the keys that have been given to us. The keys of His Kingdom His are found in His Name, His Word, and His Blood. With these keys we can go into the very presence of the Living God, Our Heavenly Father, and obtain all that we need. +++ 12/6/24 ONE ACCORD - ONE MIND Scripture: Philippians 2:2 "Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." The Lord is pleased when His children can work together and live in harmony with one another. He rejoices that those of His own household are dwelling in peace and unity. King David declared that when the brethren dwell together in unity, it brings God's anointing and blessings upon their lives (Psalms 133:1-3). Unity is a pleasant experience, not only for the Father, but also for His children. The scriptures declare that unity is like precious oil that flows down upon us and is as refreshing to us as the dew upon the mountains. There is nothing that can be accomplished or gained by being in discord. Even nature itself shows the benefits when efforts are made in a spirit of unity. We see the flight of the geese as they travel from the North to the South and marvel at their conduct. They fly in a near perfect "V" formation following after one leader. This pattern reduces the wind drag and gives lift to the geese that have lesser strength. It is estimated that flying in this pattern increases their performance by up to 70 percent. You have to wonder how they came to choose their leader. Did they have a committee to elect this particular goose or did they have some sort of try outs to determine which of them had the greatest ability, strength, and endurance? Did they argue amongst themselves as to who was going to be the one in front? We have never had a report of anyone seeing them hold an election on the ground before their flight. Yet, they all seem to be at peace with their leader and they all work together to get to where they are going. They are in positive unity to reach their ultimate goal. Even the lead goose shares his position when necessary and will relinquish it to another in the midst of the flight. The goal for the geese is their destination and not their own place of self-importance. This same unity is what we need to strive for in our walk with the Lord. Like the geese, so much more can be accomplished in our lives if we all work together to get to where we are going. King Solomon said that two are better than one; for they can keep each other warm in the cold and lift each other up if one of them should fall. Even our prayers are strengthened when we are in unity with other believers, for Matthew 18:19 says, "If two agree as touching anything on Earth, it will done of the Father in Heaven." The Lord even waited until the believers had come into one accord before He sent the promise of the Holy Spirit into their midst (Acts 1:14). Reaching our destination in life may require that we let some things go and that we do not try to be the head of all things. We all hold unique talents and have specific callings. Our destiny choice is very clear and simple. We need the Lord and we need each other to help us get to where we need to be. We can never expect the Spirit of God to move within our lives until we are not only in one accord and one mind with Him, but also with each other. +++ 12/9/24 GREAT WEALTH Scripture: I Timothy 6:6 (NLT) “True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.” We search for wealth every day of our lives. Finances are our present and future consideration. We work and make investments in order to multiply our finances, and we try to insure that we have enough wealth to carry us through to the end of our lives. Yet, when the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy he did not tell him that riches were an indication of wealth. Instead, Paul told Timothy that true godliness with contentment was great wealth. Godliness and contentment are things that money cannot buy. There are many rich people in the world who would like to be considered godly and who would not hesitate to pay a large sum of money just to gain a little contentment in their lives. For many, having great riches becomes tormenting because riches can be stolen or lost so very quickly and has no guarantees. Your desire for wealth should not be condemned because God's highest wish for you is that you prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers (III John 2). Yet, notice that your main interest should be that your soul prospers. God wants to bless you materially so that you can be a blessing to your family and share with others about you. Yet, His greatest priority is that you wrap your desires around the purposes and will of God and learn to be content in all things. Jesus said that you should be seeking the Kingdom of God first in your life and then all the things that you desire will be added to you (Matthew 6:33). What a wonderful promise. When you understand the concept of putting God first and honoring Him with all of your substance then He will be able to honor you with His wealth. This is great wealth because the blessings of the Lord that come to you will never be accompanied with sorrow. For many years, I struggled with my finances and could never seem to get ahead. It was a daily battle to make ends meet, but God always came through and many times the material provision for my need was no less than a miracle. Through the years, I have continued to trust God and believe His Word and today things are different. I do not have all that I want, but I do have all that I need. I have found the place of contentment and do not have to have the best, the newest, or the most stylish. I have inherited true wealth in knowing that God is on the throne of my heart and contentment has come to my soul because I am seeking His Kingdom first in my life. I am not rich by the world's standard, but following God's way with contentment has brought great wealth to my heart and soul. I encourage you to seek this same kind of wealth, for God will prosper you in the natural in proportion to the prosperity of your soul. +++ 12/10/24 PREVAILING PRAYER Scripture: Genesis 32:26 "But Jacob replied, I will not let you go until you bless me." Jacob was a man who aggressively pursued the blessings of God for his life. His heart's desire was to obtain the sacred birthright of the first-born and the blessings that came with it. Even in his mother's womb, Jacob struggled with Esau, his twin brother. At birth, Jacob caught hold of Esau's heel in an effort to pull him back from the destiny set before him (Genesis 25:22-26). Finally, years later, at a moment when his brother, Esau, was weak and faint from the lack of nourishment, Jacob obtained the birthright by purchasing it from Esau with a bowl of beans. Then by deception, Jacob also stole Esau's blessing from their father, Isaac. Jacob was desperate and determined to be blessed. Because of Jacob's deception with his father and brother, he was forced to leave his home, but many years later he returned as a prosperous man. As Jacob approached his homeland, the news came to him that his brother, Esau, was coming with 400 men. Thinking that Esau was out for revenge and that the worst was about to happen, Jacob sent his wives, children, and all those with him to the other side of the river in order to protect them. Jacob remained there alone through the night, greatly afraid and distressed. In the midst of the darkness, the Lord began to deal with him, and Jacob wrestled with the Lord. Jacob refused to let go, declaring, "I will not let you go until you bless me." As they wrestled, the Lord asked Jacob, "What is your name"? The Lord forced Jacob to own up to who he really was, for his name meant a 'heel catcher', a deceiver, and a trickster. When Jacob was able to acknowledge who he was by name and nature, God was able to change him. The Lord changed his name from Jacob, or deceiver, to Israel, a prince. As a prince, Jacob now had power with God and with men. He had prevailed with God and obtained the blessing as he came face to face with the Lord. The birthright that Jacob so diligently sought for passed through him to his descendants and his name was listed in the lineage of the Messiah. He obtained the promised covenant, and throughout the scriptures references are made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, instead of Abraham, Isaac, and Esau. The blessings you seek from God come with no less determination and persistence than what Jacob experienced. If you want anything from God you have to pursue Him with your whole heart. You cannot have knowledge of His Word without diligently studying it or listening to good teachers and ministers. You cannot prevail in prayer without separating yourself from those around you in order to seek God. Jacob was left alone and He experienced God face to face. Jesus, Himself, always sought for a solitary place to pray. Likewise, it is in the secret place that you too will see the face of God. Like Jacob, it will be when you come to terms with who you really are that God can change you into the person that He wants you to be. Your blessing comes through prayer and communion, and by His Word transforming your heart. They do come by any other means. Deception will not get you there. You must prevail in prayer to become a prince with God and to seal the divine destiny that He has for you. +++ 12/11/24 FIGHTING DISCOURAGEMENT Scripture: Psalm 27:14 "Wait on the Lord: Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." What would you do if you were walking along and fell into a dark pit? Would you stay there, or would you struggle and work to get out? Would you allow discouragement to overcome you, or would you attempt to conquer it? All of your tomorrow is decided by the choices that you make today. Your actions and reactions will reap consequences and rewards. Disappointment comes when things do not work out like we have planned and we see our hopes and dreams begin to fade into non-existence. When we do not deal with those disappointments, they eventually build strongholds in our spirit and turn into discouragement. When we are in this frame of mind, each step leads downward until we fall into utter hopelessness. In all of these phases, we can choose to drown in this sea of disappointment, discouragement, and hopelessness, or we can use all of the ability that God has given to us to get out. There is a story about two mice that fell into a bucket of milk. One swam and fought for a while but then became discouraged, gave up, and drowned. The other mouse just kept dog paddling, fighting, and praying all night long. When he got tired he would float for a while, then he would take courage and work at getting out again. Although nothing positive seemed to be happening, he refused to give up and never allowed discouragement and self-pity to overtake him. The mouse kept doing what he could. Finally, his churning turned the milk that was around him into a block of butter underneath him. When the milk turned to butter, he was able climb out and was free. His patient efforts, hope, and courage created a deliverance for him. God has a creative plan of deliverance for you, too. Psalms 30:5 says, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." There is an old saying that "It's always darkest just before dawn". So when you find yourself in the dark pits of discouragement, just keeping doing all that you can do. Wait upon the Lord and He will strengthen your heart. Trust in the Lord and be of good courage, for His deliverance and joy is on its way. +++ 12/12/24 IGNITING THE MOMENT Scripture: Matthew 3:11 "Jesus shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." We all have experienced those special times when it seems that an eternal moment was birthed in our lives. It was a time when things just seemed to ignite and come alive. Even today, as we recall the memory of those times, our emotions manifest themselves as they did when the incidents happened. We laugh, we cry, or just enjoy the moment from the past. Such is the case of my own husband who passed away several years ago. When my children speak of him, they always recall the "out of the ordinary" things that happened in his life that brought us joy and laughter. Although they were with him over twenty years, they do not recall many of the daily mundane incidents that had no strength to ignite. They only recall those intense moments as we played board games, enjoyed a family outing, or experienced a family crisis. It was the igniting of these special moments that burned precious memories into our hearts and minds. Think about Jesus who only lived thirty-three years on this earth. We have heard of the angels heralding His birth and of the wise men bringing Him gifts when He was about two years old. Then, we heard about Him as a twelve-year-old boy in the temple as He amazed the doctors with His questions. Suddenly the voices were silent and many years passed with no information concerning Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God. There was no mention of Him even though He was the most important person who was living at the time or who had ever lived in history. He graced this Earth with His presence, yet it was only when the Holy Spirit ignited Jesus' life that His fame went out and His deeds and Words were recorded. As a born again believer, you have great potential. God has empowered you with His Spirit and with a fire to ignite the moments in the lives of others. You are walking about on the earth like a match that is waiting to be struck. As the Holy Spirit wills, He ignites you for His service and moves through you to minister life and light to a darkened world. God has placed within you His Kingdom, which is "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17). You have an opportunity to share God’s Kingdom and the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Allow the Holy Spirit to ignite and burn inside of you for the purposes of God. It will fascinate the world just as a natural fire does, and will ignite an unforgettable and eternal moment in the lives of those you touch. +++ 12/13/24 POWER SOURCE Scripture: II Chronicles 20:12 (Amplified) "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." When an army of great magnitude came against God's people, they began to seek the Lord with diligence. They acknowledged their lack because they knew that by themselves, they were no match against their enemy. They told the Lord that they had no might, no strength, and no power, but declared their trust in Him by saying, "Our eyes are upon You." They recognized where their strength would come from and who would give them victory in the battle. As they prayed, God gave them a simple plan, which was to go into the battle praising Him. As they obeyed God’s Word, He gave them a glorious victory. When my grandson was young, he was fascinated with buttons and wires. Even though he did not understand electrical power, he knew that the buttons and wires made things work. One evening when he was a little over two years old, he began to rearrange the wires on the backside of my electronic keyboard. He had already tried the on/off switch but could not get the keyboard to work. He worked diligently but had no success because he did not know that the main power switch at the wall outlet was turned off. He finally declared, "It boke," which translates into "It is broken." This was the only conclusion that made sense to him because he could not get the buttons and wires to work. Many times our faith is "broken" in the same fashion. All the wires and buttons are there and we say and do the right things, but nothing works because we do not stop and recognize where our power and strength comes from. We try to work out a sensible solution on our own, when all the time, the power of God's presence and His wisdom is within our reach. James 1:5-6 says, "If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God ... but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering." There is no lack of power when God's presence and wisdom is with us. In the midst of our trials, we just need to call out to Jesus and repeat the scripture above, "Lord, we do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." God’s plan may be as simple as to give praise in the midst of the battle or to stand still and see His salvation. It may be a magnificent plan to confront the enemy. Whatever the solution, we can be sure that when we stop trying to figure out all the buttons and wires and begin to focus our eyes upon Him, our efforts will not be wasted. We must believe that He is the source of our strength and the wisdom to our solution. Then as we connect directly with Him in faith, He will infuse us with His power that we need to obtain the victory. +++ 12/16/24 SEEING JESUS Scripture: John 12:21 "We want to see Jesus." Have you ever wanted to see something in real time but missed it? You were able to hear the accounts from witnesses and find out the results, but it was not the same as seeing it and experiencing it as it happened. The Greeks in Jesus' day had a similar experience. Jesus had come into Jerusalem and His fame was at high level because of the miracles that were happening in His ministry. Many of the people that were following Him were there with Him when He had raised Lazarus from the dead. As this news spread, the people responded and ushered Jesus into the city in great triumph. It was a grand and glorious day for the people and for Jesus. There were some Greeks among the people who had come into the city to worship at the feast. When they heard the reports concerning Jesus, they expressed their desire to see Him for themselves. We read about the miracle of Lazarus being raised from the dead and coming out of the tomb and we often even speak about it, but I am sure that it is not the same as being there when it happened. This miracle would never leave our minds if we had witnessed the event first hand, and the impact of the moment would change our lives forever. Seeing Jesus in any capacity sets a new paradigm for our lives, for the vision of the Christ gives new strength and imparts faith. When Simeon saw the baby Jesus in the temple, he recognized Him as the promised Messiah, and Simeon declared that he was now ready to die and depart in peace, for his own eyes had seen the Lord's salvation. When Anna, the prophetess, beheld the baby, she spoke boldly declaring that Jesus was the redemption that was come to Jerusalem. The Wise Men traveled a long way to get a glimpse of Jesus, and when they came into His presence, they presented Him with priceless gifts and worshipped Him. Peter stepped out of the boat when He saw Jesus walking on the water. Each visual encounter with Jesus was awesome and produced a response. During this wonderful and glorious season, we should not dwell on the temporal tinsel and gifts that Christmas offers. We need to look beyond that and ask God to give us a new vision of the eternal Christ of Christmas. We must desire to experience the same power as those who witnessed His miracles first hand. We must recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah and the redemption for our own personal lives. We must see Him so clearly that we are ready to step out of the boat of mediocrity and follow His lead should He bid us to walk on the water. Like Simeon, we must be so persuaded by His presence that we are ready to depart this life at His slightest bidding. Let us declare that "We want to see Jesus" for ourselves and then follow that desire with a whole heart. If we truly want to see Jesus, God will open our spiritual eyes and reveal Him to us. +++ 12/17/24 HIS NAME IS AS OINTMENT Scripture: The Song of Solomon 1:3 "Thy Name is as ointment poured forth." When the angel Gabriel visited Mary and announced to her that she was going to have a son, he also told her what to name Him. Gabriel said, "You shall call His name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest" (Luke 1:31-32). The name Jesus means, "the Lord is salvation." Names are very important because they not only identify people, but they speak of the character of that person. We attach many things to a name. When you hear the name of someone you know, most often you can describe their character, where they live, work, go to church, and how they conduct their business. Their name will either bring good thoughts into your mind, which will be like sweet perfume, or their name will remind you of unpleasant memories of the past. Subconsciously, we listen for our own name. Even though we may be engaged in a separate conversation, we will usually hear our own name when it is mentioned in a noisy and crowded room. So it is with God. He is listening for the Name of Jesus to be spoken here on Earth. Jesus' Name is as a sweet ointment poured forth before God and it calls Him to attention. God's ears perk and He begins to listen when we speak the Name of Jesus in prayer. When God named Jesus before His birth, He attached many benefits to that Name. Philippians 2:9-10 says, "His Name is above every name: that at the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow." Speaking the Name of Jesus calls His presence into an assembly (Matthew 18:20). It also brings healing (James 5:14); salvation (John 1:12); deliverance (Mark 16:17); answers to prayers (John 14:13-14); the promise of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26); and even signs and wonders (Acts 4:30). Jesus' Name cannot be hidden just as a perfume cannot be covered up. Often, children will get into their mother's perfume or their father's cologne, and not realizing that a small amount is sufficient, they will use a great deal. When confronted, they may try to deny it, but the odor of that sweet fragrance speaks for itself. So it is with the Name of Jesus. When tense moments come into your life today, remember that, just like perfume, the fragrance of His Name cannot be hidden. Just speak the Name of Jesus in prayer. It will be a sweet fragrance that is poured out before God and you will have His full attention. +++ 12/18/24 THE GIFT OF GOD Scripture: John 4:10 "Jesus answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." The Samaritan woman that Jesus spoke these words to had lived a very hard life. Her life style and morals did not measure up to the other women in the city. It seemed that she did not merit their friendship because she came to the well alone instead of with the other women. She had been married five times and was now living with a man that was not her husband. She was an outcast in society. Yet this Jewish man, Jesus, was taking the time to talk with her, even though Jews normally had no dealings with the Samaritans. He was offering this woman the gift of God. This was a new concept as gifts and sacrifices were always given to God, not received from God. Jesus said to the woman, "If you only knew the gift of God." The most precious gift ever given was this gift by God some 2000 years ago. God's gift was not wrapped in beautiful foil paper and topped off with a beautiful bow. Nor was it put in a decorative bag with tissue paper. God’s gift was simply wrapped in swaddling clothes, laid in a manger, and hidden away in a stable among the smells of the animals. But God's precious gift was one of a kind and was supernatural. His gift was Jesus, who brought eternal life and light to those who would receive Him. Jesus is the living water that He spoke about to the Samaritan woman which quenches every thirst. John 3:16 tells us more about this wonderful gift and why God gave it. God's gift was His only begotten Son, and His giving was motivated by great love. God loved us so much that He gave that which was most precious to Him. His great gift had great purpose. It was eternal and was given so that we would not perish but have everlasting life. God's gift was made flesh, for only the blood of His Son could redeem mankind from sin. What an enormous gift; an everlasting gift of love, a gift of great sacrifice, and a gift of purpose. Even though God’s gift was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger, its worth exceeds silver and gold. Nothing compares to the treasure that we possess when we come to know and receive His gift. Jesus is our gift of Living Water and when we receive Him, there is no room for thirst in our spirits. It is no wonder that Jesus approached the woman at the well and spoke these words into her life, "If you knew the gift of God." +++ Copyright © 2024 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved www.widsonline.com |
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