The Greatest Gift

February 26, 2009

We are told to pray with thanksgiving for all of our blessings. (Philippians 4:6) Sometimes as we pray we thank God and then we ask for more blessings. If many of us were truthful we would admit that sometimes we have a Santa Claus experience in our prayers where we ask for more and more. It is not a matter of whether you truly need what you are asking for, it is more a matter of are you truly thankful for what you have received? For the greatest gift any one of us could receive is God himself.

He gave himself to us from the first man, Adam, created in the garden of Eden. He created a beautiful place with "trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food." (Genesis 2:9) Again and again, God sent prophets to call us back to Him and to deliver His people. He even came himself in human form. When Jesus walked this earth he taught us how we should walk in the Lord, He healed disease, and conquered death. He took the curse of our sin upon himself so that we can believe on Him and have eternal life. "o death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:55)

Maybe it is time to stop praying for blessings and start thanking God for the blessing of himself. What greater gift could we receive but the love and care of our Father in heaven? "If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:11)

Romans 5:15-18; James 1:17; Romans 6:23