A Gift For All -- Received By Few

Have you ever had a gift you took great pains to save for, locate and gift-wrap, making sure it was perfect for that loved one?  Then, have it either rejected, or casually put aside with a polite "Thanks", that really meant "No thanks"?  If you have, then you know the pain, disappointment, and hurt that brings to you, the giver. 

Would it surprise you to learn that many have done that very thing with the greatest gift of all presented to them by the greatest Giver of Gifts?

While most folks at this time of the year are focused on the Nativity and the birth of Jesus, I'd like to put forward that God's true "gift" was presented on that Christmas morning; but, took just over thirty-three years to unwrap. 

It began, as we celebrate this 25th of December, with Jesus' incarnation...his birth of lowly estate...God choosing to become one with His Creation.  But that was just the gift-wrapping.

The ultimate gift God intended was the gift of the Holy Spirit, which could not be delivered until after Christ had accomplished His Work of Salvation by His death and resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father.

"But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?  But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."
Jn 16:5-7

"But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men."
Eph 4:7-8

Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."
Acts 2:38-39

While many of us gladly receive Jesus, as Savior, most have tossed out the true gift...the Holy Spirit...with a casual "Thanks, but, no thanks."  In doing so, we reject His Lordship in the form of the Holy Spirit's guidance, direction, teaching, and endowment of power.

Now, its not as if we were putting aside a fruit cake, a tie, or another pair of socks.  We are tossing away the very gift God knew we would need in order to live the lives He called us to, as a testimony of His power, love and glory.  A gift, in fact, He commanded us to receive before we venture out to share His Gospel with others.

"Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Acts 1:8

"And, being assembled together with them [Jesus], commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."
Acts 1:4,5

"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."
Acts 4:31

"And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."
Luke 24:49

"Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God [salvation], they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost."
Acts 8:14–17

"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God."
Acts 10:44–46

"He [Paul] said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed [since they received salvation]? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."
Acts 19:2–6

"...because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,  in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.  Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace...
Rom 8:2-6

My friend, have you received His "gift" of the Holy Spirit in power?  Or, have you set it aside, like so many socks or ties or fruitcake?  Have you decided you didn't need His Gift of the Holy Spirit?  Have you become wiser now than God?  If so, as Paul has said to the Galatians, I would caution you... 

"Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?"
Gal 3:3

The gift of the Holy Spirit is for more than being born again.  It is His power to live the Holy life He calls us to and is our guarantee and assurance of His grace and favor.

"And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us."
1 Jn 3:24

"Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge."
2 Cor 1:22

"When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit."
Eph 1:13

It is also the only way we can satisfy Gods commands for a holy life.

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."
Gal 5:16-25
 "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
Eph 4:30

My friends, let us not grieve the Holy Spirit, by refusing His gifts.  Lets take another look under that tree...take up that gift again...open it up and open your hearts and lives to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.  Let us allow Him to be Lord and fill us with power, love, wisdom, strength...to truly LIVE the life God has for you, and thus, become the effective and powerful witnesses He calls us to be.

And when we do, let us be sure to give Him much thanks and praise for this eternal gift that keeps on giving.

Merry Christmas, my friend.  And God bless you, mightily with His Gift of the Holy Spirit for the coming New Year and every year following, until His return. Check out the following link for a great bible study on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit... http://www.greatbiblestudy.com/holy_spirit_baptism.php

On Corporal Punishment for Kids (aka: spanking)

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Prov 22:6

Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them. Prov 13:24

"MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?…Heb 12:5-7

When caught doing something we were instructed not to, my Mom use to make us go outside and pick out a willow switch.  This gave us time to think about what we did to deserve the punishment we were about to receive. I can't recall a single incident where I didn't deserve it. No lasting scars. Only a lasting respect for my parents and their boundaries...boundaries that kept me and my siblings from a worse fate.

We were not (and are not) angels...but, we do know how we're suppose to behave. And when we choose not to behave, we know enough not to blame others for whatever "repercussions" come our way. Our take away from corporal punishment was simply this.....personal responsibility.

Invaluable!!

Thank-you, Mom and Dad, for the courage and LOVE it took for you to make us go get those switches and understand the consequences of our actions. I love you all the more for it.