What Should I Give To Him?

“For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” 2 Corinthians 8:12

Perhaps one of the most difficult parts about giving is figuring out what to give, or even what you can give. What can we give to Christ? Perhaps the words to a song written by Gary Lanier may express our thoughts concerning this: “How can I give Him a birthday present? He is so far away. How do I show that I really love Him? Words really cannot say.”

One of the best ways was demonstrated by Saul of Tarsus, just as soon as he opened up his heart to Christ as his personal Savior: “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6) Jesus knew what He wanted from Saul and He knows what He wants from each of us. But do we want to do His will in this matter? If we try to force on someone something they don’t want, it hardly qualifies as being the good will of gift giving. So our first consideration should be, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?

The task of giving is not complete until the gift has been received. God gave His only begotten Son to die on the cross to save us from our sins, but this gift isn’t ours until we personally receive Christ as Savior and Lord. Just believing that it all happened does not mean we have received the gift. You can believe someone has a gift for you, but you don’t have it until you receive it. Likewise, for us to give Christ a gift, it must be something that He will receive. And for you to receive His gift of eternal life, you must first be willing to receive Him as your Lord and Savior.

Nothing about giving and receiving, where Christ and man is concerned, has been established, until we have first exercised our faith in trusting Christ to save us, for: “…without faith it is impossible to please him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Apart from faith, nothing we have will please Him.

But after we have accepted Him as our Savior, by faith, here is a list of gifts that will please Christ:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2) Maybe you could give Him a body free of sinful defilements; a body clothed in modest apparel, to God’s liking, rather than that which pertains to the opposite sex (1 Timothy 2:9-10, Deuteronomy 22:5). Give Him your love, devotion, worship, and surrender to His call unto service. “Christ will this gift receive.”

SHARING

Thanksgiving Proclamation

–By Abraham Lincoln

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battlefield; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

SHARING

The Measure Of Character

“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” Proverbs 24:10

“For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not the publicans the same? But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matthew 5:46,44

The following is edited from some counsel I read recently:

“One of the most important things to know about someone, if not the most, is how they handle people who get on their bad side. It’s just a clear, concise, extremely reliable measure of character. Do they turn on people lightly, arbitrarily, or only on matters of substance and only when they are presented with no other choice? Do they stoop to silent treatments and other emotional war crimes, or are they forthright and civil in choosing to keep their distance? Do they close themselves off permanently once crossed, or are they open to forgiveness based on the relative severity of the harm done and/or on the sincerity of efforts to make amends?”

“Let all your things be done with charity.” 1 Corinthians 16:14

“Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.” 1 Corinthians 14:20

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

As we study the Bible, seeking the mind of Christ and the understanding afforded by God’s Word, it is quite evident that faith is all about rising to the occasion of overcoming the host of life’s challenges. One of the biggest of these is human relationships.

Rather than go on the offensive or withdraw into our shell, we need to seek the grace of God to minister to and learn from our encounters. Rather than accumulate a stash of unresolved differences, we need to seek the wisdom from above for the needed maturity to grow bigger than our problems.

“If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how will thou do in the swelling of Jordan?” Jeremiah 12:5

SHARING

The Old Paths

I like the old paths, when Moms were at home. Dads were at work. Brothers went into the army. And sisters got married before having children! Crime did not pay. Hard work did. And people knew the difference.

Moms could cook; Dads would work; Children would behave. Husbands were loving; Wives were supportive; And children were polite. Women wore the jewelry; and Men wore the pants. Women looked like ladies; Men looked like gentlemen; and children looked decent.

People loved the truth, and hated a lie; they came to church to get in, not to get out! Hymns sounded Godly; sermons sounded helpful; rejoicing sounded normal; and crying sounded sincere.

Cursing was wicked; drinking was evil; and divorce was unthinkable.

The flag was honored; America was beautiful; and God was welcome! We read the Bible in public; prayed in school; and preached from house to house.

To be called an American was worth dying for; to be called a Christian was worth living for; to be called a traitor was a shame!

Sex was a personal word. Homosexual was an unheard word, and abortion was an illegal word.

Preachers preached because they had a message; and Christians rejoiced because they had the victory! Preachers preached from the Bible; singers sang from the heart; and sinners turned to the Lord to be saved! A new birth meant a new life; salvation meant a changed life; following Christ meant a victorious life.

Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the Word of God; being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord; being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus; and being a sinner meant someone was praying for you!

Laws were based on the Bible; homes read the Bible; and churches taught the Bible.

Preachers were more interested in new converts than new clothes and new cars. God was worshiped; Christ was exalted; and the Holy Spirit was respected.

Church was where you found Christians on the Lord’s day, rather than in the garden, on the creek bank, on the golf course, or being entertained somewhere else.

I still like the old paths the best!

–Copied

SHARING

We Were Drugged

Bless our parents who drugged us!

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question, “Why didn’t we have drug problems when you and I were growing up?” I replied, “I had a drug problem when I was young”:

I was drug to church on Sundays. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.

I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.

I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn’t put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profane four letter word.

I was drug out to pull weeds in mom’s garden and flowerbeds and cockleburs out of dad’s fields.

I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today’s children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place!

–Copied

SHARING