The Perfect Gift

“The holiday season is fast approaching with its interchange of gifts, and old and young are intently studying what they can bestow upon their friends as a token of affectionate remembrance. It is pleasant to receive a gift, however small, from those we love. It is an assurance that we are not forgotten, and seems to bind us to them a little closer. . . . It is right to bestow upon one another tokens of love and remembrance . . . .” The Adventist Home, 478.

“Do you have all your shopping done yet?” This question is often used as a greeting to our friends during the holiday time of the year. Even strangers ask strangers this question as they endure long cashier checkout lines. More often than not the answer is an agonized No!

There are some people for whom it is very hard to make the right gift selection. You have no idea what they need or want. You have no clue what their size or color preference might be. Perhaps the recipient is picky, or when you have decided, after days of struggle, on just the right present, you discover they have purchased the item for themselves. The biggest challenge in gift buying is purchasing for the person who seems to be in need of nothing; they have every necessity and imaginable gadget anyone could desire. But God knows exactly what each person needs.

Gift of the Saviour

If ever there was a gift where “everybody needs one,” “one size fits all,” or “you cannot do without it,” this is it! This Promised Gift became a need when, in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve chose to believe the smooth enticements of the serpent rather than the life-giving instructions of their Father.

“Plain and specific prophecies had been given regarding the appearance of the Promised One. To Adam was given an assurance of the coming of the Redeemer. The sentence pronounced on Satan, ‘I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel’ (Genesis 3:15), was to our first parents a promise of the redemption to be wrought out through Christ.” The Acts of the Apostles, 222.

God did not hold the human race in suspense as to when the Promised Gift would be given. He revealed the time: “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” Galations 4:4. “When the fullness of time was come, He sent forth His Son. The One appointed in the councils of heaven came to this earth as man’s instructor. The rich benevolence of God gave Him to our world, and to meet the necessities of human nature He took humanity upon Himself. To the astonishment of the heavenly host the eternal Word came to this world as a helpless babe. Fully prepared, He left the royal courts and mysteriously allied Himself with fallen human beings. ‘The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.’ John 1:14.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 259.

Can any of you who are parents comprehend giving your only son to people who, for the most part, do not have an interest in him? That is exactly what God did for us: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son . . . .” John 3:16. Imagine giving to someone an item that is very precious to you, that you have sacrificed greatly to give, and they put it away on a closet shelf and forget about it! “The priests . . . of Israel had been given the privilege of receiving Christ as their Saviour, without money and without price. But they refused the precious gift offered them in the most tender spirit of constraining love.” The Desire of Ages, 564.

“It is your Creator who has poured out to you all heaven in one wondrous gift,—His only-begotten Son. . . .” Counsels on Stewardship, 46.

You may have heard the phrase, “The gift that goes on giving.” That definitely describes what happens when the gift of the Saviour is given and accepted!

Gift of Salvation

After telling of the incomprehensible gift God gave, John 3:16 continues: “. . . that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” “For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

It is the desire of God’s heart to continue to give, especially to those individuals who accept the gift of His Son. Even to those who do not at first appreciate and accept the gift of His Son, He continues to offer the Gift—just as human parents desire to give special things to their children and continue to sacrificially offer gifts, even when their offerings are scorned and rejected. “The great gift of salvation has been placed within our reach at an infinite cost to the Father and the Son. To neglect salvation, is to neglect the knowledge of the Father and of the Son whom God hath sent in order that man might become a partaker of the divine nature, and thus, with Christ, an heir of all things. A neglect to lay hold of the priceless treasure of salvation, means the eternal ruin of your soul. The peril of indifference to God and neglect of his gift, is measured by the greatness of salvation. God has done to the uttermost of his almighty power. The resources of infinite love have been exhausted in devising and executing the plan of redemption for man. God has revealed his character in the goodness, the mercy, compassion, and love manifested to save a race of guilty rebels.” Review and Herald, March 10, 1891.

“The paternal character of God is revealed in his holy law, proving him to be full of mercy, goodness, and truth. God has manifested unparalleled love in giving his beloved Son to die for fallen man; but men have not appreciated this love, and have refused the gift of salvation. How patiently God has borne with sinners, and will still bear with them till the measure of ingratitude and iniquity is full, and the world is ripe for judgment and wrath.” Ibid., September 3, 1889.

He does not, however, want the action of acceptance to be based purely on the desire of future reward. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8, 9.

“The sinner views the spirituality of the law of God and its eternal obligations. He sees the love of God in providing a substitute and surety for guilty man, and that substitute is One equal with God. This display of grace in the gift of salvation to the world fills the sinner with amazement. This love of God to man breaks every barrier down. He comes to the cross, which has been placed midway between divinity and humanity, and repents of his sins of transgression, because Christ has been drawing him to Himself. He does not expect the law to cleanse him from sin, for there is no pardoning quality in the law to save the transgressors of the law. He looks to the atoning Sacrifice as his only hope, through repentance toward God—because the laws of His government have been broken—and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ as the One who can save and cleanse the sinner from every transgression.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 194.

“The gift of God is eternal life. The Lord desires all who receive His grace to trust entirely in Him. He calls upon us to exercise pure, simple faith, trusting in Him, without a question as to what recompense we shall receive. We are to work heartily in His service, showing that we have perfect confidence that He will judge righteously.” Lift Him Up, 343.

“The faith in Christ which saves the soul is not what it is represented to be by many. ‘Believe, believe,’ is their cry; ‘only believe in Christ, and you will be saved. It is all you have to do.’ While true faith trusts wholly in Christ for salvation, it will lead to perfect conformity to the law of God. Faith is manifested by works. And the apostle John declares, ‘He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.’ [1 John 2:4.]” Review and Herald, October 5, 1886.

Gift of the Holy Spirit

As we accept the gift of the Saviour and, subsequently, the gift of salvation, our loving Father has promised yet another gift: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” “But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:16–18, 26.

God desires to give this Gift to us that we, like Christ, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, may be prepared for the coming conflict. (See Counsels on Diet and Foods, 153.) Instruction is given to us from the pen of inspiration on how we are to prepare for this Gift. We “should uplift the standard of temperance from a Christian point of view, showing that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and bringing to the minds of the people the responsibility resting upon them as God’s purchased possession to make mind and body a holy temple, fit for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.” Testimonies, vol. 7, 75. We are to control our appetites and passions so we “have a sound physical constitution, and mental and spiritual strength,” ready to accept the indwelling Spirit. Conflict and Courage, 271.

Other character weaknesses must be overcome as well. “The Holy Spirit does not abide in the heart of him who is peevish if others do not agree with his ideas and plans. From the lips of such a man there come scathing remarks, which grieve the Spirit away, and develop attributes that are satanic rather than divine. The Lord desires those connected with His work to speak at all times with the meekness of Christ. If you are provoked, do not become impatient. Manifest the gentleness of which Christ has given us an example in His life. . . .” Counsels on Stewardship, 115.

“Every individual must realize his own necessity. The heart must be emptied of every defilement, and cleansed for the indwelling of the Spirit. It was by the confession and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and consecration of themselves to God, that the early disciples prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The same work, only in greater degree, must be done now. . . .” The Faith I Live By, 333.

As the Holy Spirit dwells within, additional gifts will be shared: “To hearts that have become purified through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, all is changed. These can know God.” Reflecting Christ, 378.

“We do not see Christ and speak to Him, but His Holy Spirit is just as near us in one place as in another. It works in and through every one who receives Christ. Those who know the indwelling of the Spirit reveal the fruits [gifts] of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.” The Faith I Live By, 57.

“The talents that Christ entrusts to His church represent especially the gifts and blessings imparted by the Holy Spirit. ‘To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.’ 1 Corinthians 12:8–11. All men do not receive the same gifts, but to every servant of the Master some gift of the Spirit is promised.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 327.

Gift of Grace

The last precious gift God gives to us that we will address in this article is the gift of grace. ” ‘Unto every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ,’ the Spirit ‘dividing to every man severally as He will.’ Ephesians 4:7; 1 Corinthians 12:11. The gifts are already ours in Christ, but their actual possession depends upon our reception of the Spirit of God.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 327.

“The Lord saw our fallen condition; He saw our need of grace, and because He loved our souls, He has given us grace and peace. Grace means favor to one who is undeserving, to one who is lost. The fact that we are sinners, instead of shutting us away from the mercy and love of God, makes the exercise of His love to us a positive necessity in order that we may be saved.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 347.

“In the matchless gift of His son, God has encircled the whole world with an atmosphere of grace as real as the air which circulates around the globe. All who choose to breathe this life-giving atmosphere will live, and grow up to the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus.” God’s Amazing Grace, 238.

What do You do with a Gift?

Every parent has had the experience of searching for some special gift for their child and then, after all their effort, seeing the child spend more time playing with the box the gift came in than with the gift itself. The feeling you have at that time approximates the feeling God must have about the attitudes some of His children display towards the gifts He gives. What should our attitude be to God?

Express Gratitude

We should first express our gratitude. “Thanks [be] unto God for his unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15. How we appreciate receiving a note of thanks for a gift we have given! Our feelings toward the gift recipient become more tender, and we look forward to the pleasure of bestowing more gifts upon them. But, how disappointed we become when we do not receive an acknowledgement of our carefully selected gift. Since we are created in the image of God, it would seem feasible that He experiences the same feelings from our reactions to His gifts.

“The thought that Christ died to obtain for us the gift of everlasting life, is enough to call forth from our hearts the most sincere and fervent gratitude, and from our lips the most enthusiastic praise.” Sons and Daughters of God, 238.

“Before angels and men we should reveal our gratitude for what he has done for us.” Review and Herald, September 12, 1899.

Use It

It is a pleasure to us to see a gift we have given being utilized. It makes us happy to know that it is benefiting the receiver. It gives God pleasure when we use His gifts.

“Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” 1 Timothy 4:14.

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did [it] ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 1:12–14.

“As stewards of the grace of God, . . . It means much, very much to us to be strengthened by His rich grace day by day, to be enabled to understand His will, to be found faithful in that which is least as well as in that which is great. When this is our experience, the service of Christ will be a reality to us. God demands this of us, and before angels and men we should reveal our gratitude for what he has done for us.” Counsels on Stewardship, 111.

“The work of labor for the salvation of souls does not rest alone upon the delegated minister, but that to every man God had given his work. The Lord’s work is to be carried forward by the living members of Christ’s body, and in the great divine appointment of God each one is to be educated to act a part in the conversion of souls. He has enlisted in the army of the Lord, not for ease, not to study his own amusement, but to endure hardships as a faithful soldier of the cross of Christ. Every private must act his part, be vigilant, be courageous, be true.” This Day With God, 368.

Share It

A gift brings even more enjoyment and fulfillment when it is shared. “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:6, 7.

“There are some who are liberal with their gifts, and these gifts call forth the grateful praise of those who through them are given a knowledge of the gospel. The givers become the subject of the prayers of those who receive the benefit of the offerings made.” Pacific Union Recorder, November 14, 1907.

“As the plan of redemption begins and ends with a gift, so it is to be carried forward. The same spirit of sacrifice which purchased salvation for us will dwell in the hearts of all who become partakers of the heavenly gift. Says the apostle Peter: ‘As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.’ Said Jesus to His disciples as He sent them forth: ‘Freely ye have received, freely give.’ In him who is fully in sympathy with Christ there can be nothing selfish or exclusive. He who drinks of the living water will find that it is ‘in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.’ [John 4:14.] The Spirit of Christ within him is like a spring welling up in the desert, flowing to refresh all, and making those who are ready to perish, eager to drink of the water of life.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 730.

As you review your gift list this holiday season, consider sharing the Perfect Gift. Ellen White advises that “We should make our gifts such as will prove a real benefit to the receiver. I would recommend such books as will be an aid in understanding the word of God or that will increase our love for its precepts. Provide something to be read during these long winter evenings.” The Adventist Home, 479. What greater gift can be given than the knowledge of the Saviour who longs to give, through His grace, salvation? The recipient who receives and accepts this Perfect Gift will be offering praise and thanks throughout eternity.