Do You Know the Greatest Gift that Never Stops Giving Joy? ⋆ Effie Darlene Barba %

Two thousand twenty-five years ago, God the Father sent His Only son. Sent to be born in a lowly manger in a sacrificial sheep birthing cave just outside of Bethlehem. The very place where all the sacrificial lambs were born and placed in swaddling clothes to have no blemish. A gift promised to Adam and Eve. The gift awaited for by every man or woman who believed God and by faith followed Him. There were rituals and laws to be followed as a demonstration of their faith throughout history. All pointed to the one Greatest Gift of all. Jesus, in very essence God. He is the perfect reflection of all God the Father IS. Willingly He humbled Himself to be breathed into the womb of Mary by the Holy Spirit.

The Creator of the World was born, exactly as prophesied and laid in a manger. Not just any manger. The very one where sacrificial lambs were born. He was wrapped in the very same swaddling clothes as they. Why? Because He came to be the Ultimate Sacrificial lamb to take away the sins of the World. How wonderful! How Magnificently Presented! Every single prophecy fulfilled in this God’s Greatest Gift of all! But for all those who know Him as Lord and Savior, the Gift does not stop there. It is the gift of salvation. For in Him alone can we be saved from the slavery we have to this sinful flesh we live in. Our minds so quick to wonder, to worry, and to do evil. Always seeking to be proud of ourselves, only to fail in our own effort. Our chains are broken by His Grace.

The Greatest Gift Bearing Gifts

But if that were not enough, God’s Greatest Gift came bearing gifts galore for each who would believe. These cannot be cast aside either. He came to give us joy, love, and to share His glory with each of us. If only we surrender our hearts, minds, and bodies to His Will. That is what Romans 12:1-2 tells us as we studied last week.

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 NKJV

This the urgent plea given by the Holy Spirit through Paul. Why? Because therein lies the secret to living a life fully devoted to Him who gave it all for us. In that life, centered in His very will, we find everything. It has all already been given us who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. But all too often we go about our busy days. We leave the gifts unopened under the tree or hidden in the closet. His gifts! The very precious meaning of life itself cast aside. Meanwhile we seek after that which can satisfy our thirsty souls in desert sands.

The Greatest Gift prays to the Father for Gifts of Protection, Joy, Truth, Love, and Glory for us

But now I am coming to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them away from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, so that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. “I am not asking on behalf of these alone, but also for those who believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected n unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

“Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17: 13-26 NASB

Ephesians 1: Laden with More Gifts than we Can Imagine or Hope for

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in the Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1: 1-15 NASB

Since the Greatest Gift of God was not His Only Gift to You, I Pray this for You as well

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:17-23 NASB

And As if this the Greatest Gift were not Enough

He has gifted us each with a special spiritual gift that we may use to point others to Christ. Each given our special gift. With all those gifts working together as one within the church, it functions with His power. Not that He needs me. Rather He gives me the privilege to be a part of His great and magnificent work. His creature in Him working for His creation. Wow!

so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith; if service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:5-8 NASB

So, as Paul I say to you

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, Romans 12: 3-4 NASB

Do not let pride steal your gift of serving Him from you this year. For within that gift, He has wrapped His Glory to Share in you.

My Greatest Plea

Do not get so busy that you leave the Greatest Gift of All unopened. Jesus Christ came that you might have life and have it abundantly. But you must open that gift by asking Him to come into your heart. Believing that He is the Only Begotten Son of God who died in your place. Repent of your sins while believing His resurrection conquered sin and death forever for all who believe in Him. With sincerity of heart, if you hear Him calling, ask Him in. He is the greatest gift of all and comes bearing many more gifts with Him. If you know Him already and do not feel His joy. Surrender your all to Him and watch His miracles unfold. Read His word. Sit in His presence every day. He is all you will ever need to know peace, joy, hope, and everlasting love overflowing.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

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Therefore Because of Who He IS Surrender Your Body Completely to God

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. That is except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Please note: This Post only has quotes from the KJV Bible except where otherwise indicated

¹ J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

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