What we can possibly give to the One who loved us so much that He came and gave Himself for us?

 

This Christmas was summed up by God in these words: “God so loved the world that he gave”.

 

Christ’s Birth was God giving the hope of salvation to all who would hear and respond in faith to His Son.

 

Christmas is still closely tied to buying and giving gifts. So it is fitting for us to think about what we can possibly give to the One who loved us so much that He came and gave Himself for us.

 

How to Send Gifts to Our Father in Heaven

What gifts can we offer to God that He really wants? What are the treasures that we can purchase by our lives and send to Him that He will unwrap and smile with delight upon those gifts?

 

Everything we do, everything we say, everything we pray, and everything we give – rises as offerings to the Lord.

 

God tells us that our gifts sent to Him as worship prayers and choices, and deeds offered to Him, are so important: He keeps them stored right at His feet.

 

Those prayers are the first of these seven gifts that God treasures, that we can send ahead to God’s Throne.

 

1. Prayer: all of our prayers offered in Jesus Name rise to be collected as treasures by God. Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3-4
See them there, right in front of His Throne? What do you have in that bowl of our collected prayers? If God loves our prayers so much that He collects them all (like notes from my wife & kids) why don’t we send Him even more?

 

We each need to invest in giving to God our daily times of prayers.

 

If we just invite God into every choice, and decision, every unexpected challenge and defeat, every accomplishment and triumph, every fear and frustration: our life will be revolutionized as we say to the Lord, “I need YOU in every part of my life!”

 

2. Adoration: our devotional love for God is more important to God than all the Old Testament sacrifices ever offered on altars; and that adoration is what He treasures from our lives. Mark 12:33

 

3. Surrender: our life offered in surrender each day for His glory becomes an act of worship that God treasures as a gift from us.Romans 12:1

 

Have we recently renewed that offering of all we are to Him?

4. Ministry: serving in the ministries of Christ’s Church is an offering of worship that God notes as a special gift from us that He treasures.Philippians 2:17

 

Are we pouring out our time to God?

Time flies by, and we cannot keep it.

But if we invest our time with Him, we will never lose it.

5. Offerings: our gifts given to Christ’s Church are Worship offerings that God treasures. Philippians 4:18

What is the aroma ascending from our gifts invested in Christ’s Church today?

 

6. Worship: our words of praise and songs of worship an become gifts we are offering to God, that He treasures.Hebrews 13:15

 

7. Good Works: finally, our secret acts of kindness and other good deeds in Christ’s Name are gifts we can give that get treasured by God. Hebrews 13:16

 

What acts of kindness have we premeditated and carried out this week? Plan to do intentional sacrificial acts of kindness for others. Do things unasked, unseen, and without expecting any thanks.

 

Let’s Send Gifts to Our Father in Heaven

These are the gifts can we offer to God that He really wants.

These are the gifts that rise to His Throne, and get poured out before Him.

 

These are the choices so important to God in our lives that He collects all that we offer Him.

 

Everything we do, everything we say, everything we pray, and everything we give – rises as offerings to the Lord.

 

God tells us that our lives of worship, offered to Him, are so important: He keeps them forever.

 

Which of these gifts, treasured by God are you planning to send as an offering of love to Him, so that He can store them in your bowl at the foot of His Throne?

 

This devotional is an excerpt from a message by Dr. John Barnett.