Open Your Gifts

 

By Andrea Merrell

His divine power has given to us all things that pertain 

to life and godliness.

2 Peter 1:3 NKJV

 

Imagine, if you will, a beautifully decorated Christmas tree surrounded by gifts of all sizes and shapes, yet no one bothers to open them. People admire them, talk about them, maybe even have a hint as to what’s inside. But no one takes the time to unwrap them.

Why would anyone ignore or refuse to accept such extravagant gifts?

Maybe our heavenly Father asks the same question: Why do you refuse to accept my gifts?

The Bible tells us that God has “given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness." That means everything we could possibly need—and then some—to live a godly life pleasing to Him has been made available to us through His divine power.

James tells us that “every good and perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights (1:17 NKJV). What gifts? Salvation. Peace. Joy. Love. Strength. And wisdom … just to name a few. Jesus paid the price for each of these and so much more, yet we sometimes neglect to open these precious gifts and put them to use.

This Christmas, leave no gift unopened. Rejoice in the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus, but don’t forget His death, resurrection, and all He gave us through that ultimate sacrifice.

Go ahead. Open your gifts. They’re always available, not just at Christmas, but all year long.

Photo by Mike Cox on Unsplash

Meaningless Living

By Andrea Merrell

Now all has been heard;

    here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments,

    for this is the duty of all mankind.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

“What’s the meaning of life?” the little girl asked. “Why did God put us here?”

 

The father—visibly shaken by the question—said, “because heaven is crowded.”

It was a TV show. It was supposed to be funny. But it made me wonder how many foolish answers like this are given by those who don’t have a clue.

So, why are we here? Why were we given life and breath? Some people spend their entire existence pursuing knowledge, wealth, pleasure, and power. Others drift aimlessly about just trying to make it from one day to another.

King Solomon was one of the wisest of men but spent most of his life searching in the wrong places. When all was said and done, this was his conclusion: “Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” Then he wrapped it up and put it in the proverbial nutshell: “Here is the conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.”

Simply put, we are here to reverence God by loving Him and living our lives according to His Word. Our daily goal should be drawing close to the Lord, listening for His voice, and bringing honor and glory to Him with every breath.

If you're searching for meaning in your life, turn to God. Seek Him with all your heart. He has a wonderful plan and purpose made especially for you.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Master Isolated Images.)

TWEETABLE

If you’re searching for meaning in your life, turn to God. Seek Him with all your heart. He has a wonderful plan and purpose made especially for you. (Click to tweet.)

To read in browser or leave a comment, click here.

 

Life is Short ... Don't Waste It

By Andrea Merrell

Death is never easy, no matter the circumstance. But sometimes it makes you stop and evaluate your own life, which can turn out to be a good thing.

My husband and I were going to make a trip to the chiropractor on Good Friday. I suggested making a call first to be sure the office was open. When my husband reached the answering machine and played the message out loud, we were both shocked.

Our chiropractor—who we had been seeing for over twenty years—passed away recently at the age of fifty-eight. He was strong, healthy, and physically active, as far as we knew. He had a heart to help others and was one of the most positive, encouraging people we had ever had the pleasure to know. The loss of this fine man—especially at such a young age—was devastating.

As I prayed for the family, God reminded me that life is short … much too short to be spent bickering, fighting, and not getting along with others. It’s important to make the most of the time we have on this earth to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives, because no one is promised tomorrow.

Knowing God and being part of His family makes life worth the living. He is loving, faithful, and showers us with mercy and grace every single day.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Graphics Mouse.)

Tweetable

Life is short … make the most of every day byhonoring the One who gave you breath. (Click to Tweet.)

To read in browser, click here.