Good Gifts

 

 Good Gifts

by Mary Ann Wray

 Who doesn’t remember their birthdays, Christmases, graduations and special events as a child that came with gifts and celebrations? Those are the times we reflect on with feelings of happiness and gratitude. Who doesn’t remember the long-coveted shiny new bicycle you asked your dad for and wondered when it might turn up? You weren’t sure it if would come on your Birthday, Christmas or graduation from kindergarten to elementary to middle school. The anticipation was palpable yet you speculated when and if it would appear.

The first time I remember asking for a bicycle was when I was around eight years old. One afternoon my dad surprised me with an older used bike that someone had resold after making sure all the parts were in good working order. It was a bright blue, one of my favorite colors. The wheels were large and wide, and it had a metal basket attached on the handle bars. There was a little bell on one of the handle bars I could press to warn those I was getting ready to pass on the street while walking. I have to say as appreciative as I was for the bicycle, I was a bit disappointed that it looked more like a bicycle the milk man would ride behind a milk cart for his daily deliveries. I never let on to my dad what I was thinking about it though. He told me that he never wanted to see it left out in the rain and that he expected me to take good care of it. He said that if I proved I could take care of this bike, he might get me the one I really wanted later on. That’s exactly what happened. What was even more fantastic is that I ended up not having to work for it. I got it for free!

Getting back to taking care of old “blueberry...” when the tires lost air and started to go flat I let my dad know and asked him to show me how to pump them back up. If the chain fell off, I told Dad and he helped me put the chain back on the pedal gear spokes. If the seat came a bit loose after so many rides, he showed me how to take a wrench and tighten the bolts underneath the seat.

I have to say that I was faithful in taking care of that jalopy of a bicycle, not only because I loved riding it, but I really wanted my dream bike: a Murray High Flight Bicycle with a banana Seat and butterfly handle bars in bright blue. It finally happened one Christmas Morning about a year and a half later. I woke up on December 25th, 1964 to find the two wheeled wonder propped up in front of our Christmas Tree. How can you forget a day like that? I was in awe! My dream finally came true! I was lost for words other than saying, "Thank you, Daddy," over and over again like an old 45 broken record skipping because of a scratch!

In a greater way, Our Heavenly Father loves to give good gifts to His children when we ask!

“If you, then, being evil [that is, sinful by nature], know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!” Luke 11: 13 AMP

We know from the gospels that the greatest gift we could ever receive is the free gift of eternal life. John, the Beloved said this:“To as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become the sons of God.” John 1: 12. Also, Paul the Apostle stated in Ephesians 2: 8 & 9, that we are saved by grace through faith. It is a free gift. It is not from our good works, so that no one can boast about how "good they are". Only God is good and desires all men to be saved. All He requires of us is to believe in His Only Begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ and repent of our sins. But God’s generosity doesn’t stop there, as miraculous as receiving eternal life is. There is more the Father wants to bestow upon us because He loves us and desires to give us what we need to partner with Him in spreading the gospel more effectively. 

These Spiritual gifts are not necessary for salvation, but they make our Christian Walk much more fruitful and yes, enjoyable at times. It’s not that we live for the joy of being used by God to help others through the power of His Spirit, but the reward comes from being a humble vessel through which His Spirit can flow. It's something you can’t really explain; you have to experience it and can if you just ask and wait patiently.

Some people believe these Spiritual Gifts or Charisms passed away right after the time of the Apostles. That is certainly something that can be debated. But all arguments aside, I know for a fact how generous our Heavenly Father is and how much He delights to grant us the ability to partner with Holy Spirit through these marvelous gifts. As a new believer, I devoured Scripture as a ravenous child who couldn't get enough milk. One day my eyes fell upon the passages of scripture in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church and my understanding was opened to the wonder and unchanging nature of our God. I asked for several of these gifts and eventually He saw fit to give them to me. The only condition that came with these Spiritual gifts is similar to what my earthly dad expected of me. I must steward them properly.

Over the years I have to say there were times I took His gifts for granted and even witnessed some abuse of these precious gifts by others. Nevertheless, those abuses are a reflection of our fallen humanity, not the goodness of God. The Holy Spirit has taught me some sobering lessons about the use of His gifts. Do we use them to glorify Him and help others or do we use them to benefit our own egos? Do we use those gifts to point to ourselves and charisma; or do we realize that it is God Himself doing the work? Since these charisms are gifts from God we cannot boast. The worse possible abuse of a gift is using it or pretending to have one, in order to make a profit and charge people for "tokens." Using tokens or words of personal prophecy for personal gain is worse than a thief because it couples thievery with lies and portrays God in a completely wrong light. God help those who do such things..

“For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” 1 Corinthians 4: 7

I want to encourage you to ask Father God for the spiritual gifts. As you read your Bible, pray, and work with people there may be a gift the Holy Spirit wants to give you to be a more effective minister. Have you ever felt like something was missing when you pray for or with people? It may be that a Gift of the Spirit is the missing piece. You'll know because you will have a desire for it.  After you ask, it’s then up to you to use His gifts graciously and wisely. Let all thee things be done with a spirit of humility and love.

“Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit. But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort. The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.” 

1 Corinthians 14: 1-4 ESV

 “Now about the spiritual gifts [the special endowments given by the Holy Spirit], brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were led off after speechless idols; however you were led off [whether by impulse or habit]. Therefore, I want you to know that no one speaking by the [power and influence of the] Spirit of God can say, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is [my] Lord,” except by [the power and influence of] the Holy Spirit.

Now there are [distinctive] varieties of spiritual gifts [special abilities given by the grace and extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit operating in believers], but it is the same Spirit [who grants them and empowers believers]. And there are [distinctive] varieties of ministries and service, but it is the same Lord [who is served]. And there are [distinctive] ways of working [to accomplish things], but it is the same God who produces all things in all believers [inspiring, energizing, and empowering them]. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit [the spiritual illumination and the enabling of the Holy Spirit] for the common good. To one is given through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] the message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] the word of knowledge and understanding according to the same Spirit; to another [wonder-working] faith [is given] by the same [Holy] Spirit, and to another the [extraordinary] gifts of healings by the one Spirit; and to another the working of [a]miracles, and to another prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], and to another discernment of spirits [the ability to distinguish sound, godly doctrine from the deceptive doctrine of man-made religions and cults], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues. All these things [the gifts, the achievements, the abilities, the empowering] are brought about by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, distributing to each one individually just as He chooses.”

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 AMP