What is the Greatest Gift We Can Give?

 

What is the greatest gift we can give to everyone around us?

One December morning on the fringe of my quiet time, I heard a whisper and felt a nudge. If I obeyed the Holy Spirit’s prompt, I’d be able to give the gift of kindness to someone who has been unkind to me.

Why would I bother to bundle up a gift and give it to a person who caused so much bother in my life?

 

The answer lay white as snow outside my writing room window: Forgiveness.

The answer hung bright as Christmas lights over my desk. Emmanuel. God with us, who will help us be like Jesus.

That morning’s Bible verse-of-the-day didn’t shy away from what God desires us to do for someone else.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12 NIV

How I responded to this good deed He planned for me to do would spell out how deeply I believed His Truth. It would confirm or deny my own transformation—my own sanctification. It’s not that I hadn’t obeyed that nudge before. It’s that it would take even more planning to fulfill it this time.

Sometimes the best plans to bless others begin with swallowing the pride that begs us to hide instead.

Because the joy of the Lord is a lovely thing to have flow through us, we are motivated to root so much as a tendril of bitterness growing inside of us. Bitter people don’t bless their enemies. God’s people do.

 

White as snow living means giving when our hearts still hurt. Jesus hung on a cross of agony and prayed His Father would forgive His enemies. What is more generous and kinder than a perfect Savior caring more for the salvation of others than He did about His ripped-to-shred self?

Called. We’re called to carry a cross. Like Christmas trees lit up with love and sheltering gifts of kindness, we too must be bearers of God’s grace.

What’s the greatest gift we can give to everyone around us? It’s to clothe ourselves in the kindness of Christ.

When we do, others won’t see us—they’ll see Jesus. He’s not just the reason for this season of kindness; He’s the reason for our hope in all the seasons of life we run, walk, and crawl through.
His kindness bought the eternal kindness of God towards repentant sinners. That’s who we are. We’re muddy gardens covered by Christ’s white-as-snow redemptive love. We’re faithfully watched over and prayed over by Jesus who is the Head Gardener of our souls. He desires all bitter roots to be pulled out. So. That. Much. Sweet. Fruit. Is. Grown.

 

The proof of good fruit proves the Gospel has truly taken root.

Forgive us, dear Lord. And help us forgive others.

Without forgiveness flowing from us, there’s no forgiveness of us. It’s a two-way deal. And having our names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life means we’re signed up to deny no one the kindness of Christ.

There is a way to be kind and safe. But there’s no way to be unkind and saved.

When God nudges us to give, it’s because He knows of a safe way to do so. And the only thing in danger is our ego. Loving our enemies proves we’re no longer enemies with God.

 

Loving our enemies doesn’t mean we didn’t suffer and don’t need therapy. It means the healing we seek will be so much sweeter because we’ve refused to stay bitter.

Obedience blesses us. Disobedience curses us. Let’s live like people who are no longer under sin’s curse. Let’s bless others with the kindness of Christ.

Loving our enemies proves we’re no longer enemies with God. #christianliving #memoir Click To Tweet Let’s bless others with the kindness of Christ. #kindness #faith Click To Tweet The proof of good fruit proves the Gospel has truly taken root. #Devotional #forgiveness Click To Tweet

Christmas Blessings from my house to yours ~ Wendy Mac

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