The Good Gift

“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 KJV

  Our youngest turned seven recently. I have been the beneficiary of his warm hugs over the years when I get home from work. This is something his older siblings have done as well, but he has continued it longer than the others. This probably has something to do with being the youngest.

  His birthday was no different, except I heard one of the older siblings mutter that he’s been waiting for me to get home because then he can open his presents. If I hadn’t had hundreds if not a thousand hugs from him as a body of proof, I would have been jaded in my thoughts towards him, but he consistently watches for my truck and meets me when I park or runs to the door when I get home. I can’t blame him for a little extra excitement about some gifts from his father and mother.

  We do know what he likes. We have been witnesses these 7 years to what excites him most. The cars and candy that so many young boys enjoy will surely light up his face when he opens them later.

  There is a difference though between an earthly parent and our Heavenly Father. He who created us knows us even more intimately than we can even know our children. We may know what their favorite candy is, or what toys will bring a smile, but He knows something else. He knows what brings eternal joy. Our gifts will be eaten or played with for a while but will be consumed or broken before too much time has passed.

His gift is eternal. He certainly gives us natural gifts, and we can be thankful for them, but they don’t compare with the gift of his Son. He who brings fullness of joy and mercies beyond compare.

  We sang a song at a Baptism last Sunday that tells us where our true treasures are. The first verse goes;

“There are treasures for children in heaven above. For the children who trust in their Lord; They shall dwell in the light of His favor and love; They shall praise Him with joyous accord.”

                                                                                                                     Anonymous

  Oh, that we as his children would all avail ourselves of the treasure that is Jesus Christ and have that joy of dwelling in the light of his favor and love. May we, like our 7-year-old, run to meet him when we cross that Jordan river.

Oh, that we would always have that excitement when we see Him. whether that is in the Word as we read and study it, or when we see him in our fellow believers. Or even better as we stand before God on that final day, and he says to us “well done they good and faithful servant”

May we praise God for his unspeakable mercy towards us in Christ.

Hans Lampinen

Submitted by Pastor Stan