Gift/Fruit—Gifts/Fruits???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #347

You may have noticed that I haven’t been writing much of late, but it has been a bit crazy in our circle with family issues, illness and the issues of just living life.  But hopefully we’re on the road back to normal—whatever that is!!  I’m sure you understand that; so I thought I’d look at something that we all need to be reminded of, and that is God’s gift to us and His gifts to us, and there is a difference.  I want to spend a little time today considering the difference and where you and I stand in regard to the gift and the gifts.  What have you done with each!  Let’s begin with the Samaritan woman whom Jesus met at the well.

“Jesus answered and said unto her,

If thou knewest the gift of God,

and who it is that saith to thee,

Give me to drink;

thou wouldest have asked of him,

and he would have given thee

living water.”  John 4:10

If you recall much about biblical history, the Samaritans weren’t very well-liked, in fact most Jewish people would go far out of their way to avoid Samaria at all costs; in fact there’s an often-unnoticed misnomer in one of Jesus’ parables, the one we call the “Good” Samaritan; but no one listening to Jesus’ teach would have applied the term “good” to any Samaritan!  Yet, here is Jesus talking face to face to not only a Samaritan, but a Samaritan woman, an immoral woman at that!  But Jesus already knew her need, and He found her worthy of being the first one recorded to whom He revealed His true nature!  He identifies Himself as “the gift of God”, the one who could give “living water” which He went on in verse 14 to declare to her that, “the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life”!  This woman of ill repute and of Samaritan heritage found Jesus to be whom He professed to be, and not only believed what He spoke to her, but then proclaimed that truth to those in her village.  And just as Jesus was the gift to this woman and the others who came to believe in Him before the cross, He is still ready to save and give eternal life to all who will come to Him in repentance and faith in His substitutionary atoning sacrifice!  Paul reminds us over and over of this truth of the “gift of God”!

“But not as the offence,

so also is the free gift.

For if through the offence of one

many be dead,

much more the grace of God,

and the gift by grace,

which is by one man,

Jesus Christ,

hath abounded unto many.”  Romans 5:15

And some of the most familiar verses that I use continually:

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

 In other words, there is nothing we can do to be worthy to come into God’s presence—but God, through Jesus, made a way!

“But now being made free from sin,

and become servants to God,

ye have your fruit unto holiness,

and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   Romans 6:22-23

And another of those familiar passages reminds us that salvation is God’s gift to all who will come to Him in faith and repentance.  Have you come?  God’s grace gift is still Jesus!

“That in the ages to come

he might shew the exceeding riches

of his grace

in his kindness toward us

through Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:7-10

Jesus is the gift of God to us for salvation and eternal life with God; and not only is Jesus “the gift”, but when He saves us, He imparts individual, particular spiritual gifts to each one by The Holy Spirit which Jesus imparts to His own; and these gifts are in God’s purpose for us to minister to those in God’s family and be a witness to those who need Jesus.  What are you doing with your gift/gifts?

“As every man hath received the gift,

even so minister the same one to another,

as good stewards

of the manifold grace of God.

11 If any man speak,

let him speak as the oracles of God;

if any man minister,

let him do it as of the ability which God giveth:

that God in all things may be glorified

through Jesus Christ,

to whom be praise and dominion

for ever and ever. Amen.”  1 Peter 4:10-11

God gifts us for His work, His service and His glory; what are you doing with your gifts?  Won’t you seek Jesus’ face and pursue the work that He has gifted you to do.  You’ll never regret doing that which God has called you to!  Remember that God doesn’t call the “equipped”, rather He “equips” the called.  If you are called, be true to your calling, and Him who called you!

“But unto every one of us is given grace

according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

8 Wherefore he saith,

When he ascended up on high,

he led captivity captive,

and gave gifts unto men…

… 11 And he gave

some, apostles;

and some, prophets;

and some, evangelists;

and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints,

for the work of the ministry,

for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith,

and of the knowledge of the Son of God,

unto a perfect man,

unto the measure of the stature

of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children,

tossed to and fro,

and carried about with every wind

of doctrine,

by the sleight of men,

and cunning craftiness,

whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up into him in all things,

which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body

fitly joined together

and compacted by that

which every joint supplieth,

according to the effectual working

in the measure of every part,

maketh increase of the body

unto the edifying of itself in love.”                   Portions of Ephesians 4:7-16

And on a last note in closing, there is also the “fruit of the Spirit”—and note, that is “fruit” (singular) not “fruitS” (plural).  This is God’s work of conforming us into the “image of His Son” (See Romans 8:28-29) as God’s Spirit transforms us day by day in each of these areas of life!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”  Galatians 5:22-25

When we walk in The Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord, we will reflect His nature, character and righteousness—our behavior reveals what is in our heart.  Yes, we all have moments of weakness or failure, but it is not to be our continual way!  Jesus places His Holy Spirit within us to work in us the glory of God.  Paul gives us a challenge to this kind of living, so in closing I share one of my favorite passages.

“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.

2 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.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself

more highly than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God

hath dealt to every man

the measure of faith.” Romans 12:1-3

May you know the “gift of God” Jesus, as your Lord and Savior, and may you then recognize His touch of grace in your life and exercise the spiritual “gifts” that He will bestow upon you! And because of this, we can boldly come to our Lord when we are in need!

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest,

that is passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14-16

Amen and Amen!!!