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We’re on the last few days of 2021, and Christmas time is slowly fading away. How would you remember it? I have been spending time in God’s Word and reflecting on God’s goodness this year. A year darkened by the presence of COVID-19 and many lives lost as a result. A year of many changes that have impacted all of our lives in more ways than one. Despite all, we are here, we’re alive, and we’ve made it this far. Praise God!
“Giving” is the nature of Christmas time, and receiving with a cheerful heart is even more. In light of this, I want to share with you a highlight from my Christmas Scripture readings that really encouraged and lifted my spirits up. Hope it does the same to yours, too!
2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" (ESV)
In this scripture, Paul is appealing to the Corinthians to participate willingly and cheerfully in giving generously to meet the needs of the suffering Jerusalem Christians. Paul then wraps it up with his concluding declaration, "Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" In the end, Paul’s focus is not on the gift of money he wanted the Corinthians to collect for the Jerusalem believers, it is on God's gift to all who are in Christ.” (https://www.bibleref.com paraphrased).
I love the scripture so much, and I was very interested to find more scriptures that link up with the Christmas story – ‘giving’ as being the reason for this season. I was blessed that the Holy Spirit led me to read the following scriptures (NKJV):
It was Jesus Himself who said in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”
2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" (ESV)
In this scripture, Paul is appealing to the Corinthians to participate willingly and cheerfully in giving generously to meet the needs of the suffering Jerusalem Christians. Paul then wraps it up with his concluding declaration, "Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" In the end, Paul’s focus is not on the gift of money he wanted the Corinthians to collect for the Jerusalem believers, it is on God's gift to all who are in Christ.” (https://www.bibleref.com paraphrased).
I love the scripture so much, and I was very interested to find more scriptures that link up with the Christmas story – ‘giving’ as being the reason for this season. I was blessed that the Holy Spirit led me to read the following scriptures (NKJV):
It was Jesus Himself who said in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”
During Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, He said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” (John 4:10).
Paul says in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Then in Romans 8:32 he says, “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?
Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
I will leave you with this: Paul quotes Jesus in Acts, “It’s more blessed to give than receive” (Acts 20:35 NKJV).
Merry Christmas again, my friends and - God bless!
Paul says in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Then in Romans 8:32 he says, “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?
Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
I will leave you with this: Paul quotes Jesus in Acts, “It’s more blessed to give than receive” (Acts 20:35 NKJV).
Merry Christmas again, my friends and - God bless!
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