Unwrap Your Gifts

December 15, 2024

Dr. Paul Cannings

Imagine how a parent would feel if their children were given gifts on Christmas Day and laid them aside without attempting to open them or even find out what they were, and just said: “Thank you.”

Imagine how the Lord must feel when He has given gifts to us that He intends for us to use (1 Peter 4:10), and yet we never take the trouble to find out what they are, never put them to work, and then excuse ourselves from serving the church by saying that we can’t do anything!

Like any gift, it must be unwrapped, examined, and used. It is when we use our gifts the body of Christ is served (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-20). When the body of Christ is served, we are built up spiritually (Ephesians 4:12-16). When we are built up spiritually, Christ is glorified. When Christ is continuously glorified, lives are changed, souls are won to Christ, and Christmas is celebrated all year-long as we worship Him daily (Colossians 3:12-17).

Our service pleases God because it demonstrates our faith in Him (James 2:14-17) and our love for Him (1 John 3:16-20). The greatest gift we can give to God is to use the gift He has given to us to serve others. “For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Galatians 6:8-10).  Serving the Lord is one of God’s greatest desires for us (Deuteronomy 11:13; Joshua 22:5; 24:21-1 Samuel 12:24).

Let this season remind us of our need to unwrap the gifts that Christ has provided us so that the season serves the reason all year-long. When we unwrap His gifts there is no way we will be disappointed. We will be a blessing, and we will be blessed.