Charles Stanley Daily Devotional (December 25, 2024) The Ultimate Giver.
We serve a lavishly generous God who gives us all we need—and more.
Romans 11:33-36 - Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? 35 Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
This Christmas, set aside some quiet time to reflect upon the divine gifts that forever changed the course of human destiny.
We generally focus on the Father’s gift: He gave His Son to be the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14 - We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world). What we don’t often realize is that all three members of the Trinity have a part in this divine display of generosity, which continues into eternity. Jesus came to offer His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45 - ``For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."). After His death and resurrection, He and the Father sent the Holy Spirit to live inside believers forever (John 14:16 - ``I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;; John 16:7 - ``But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.). The Spirit in turn gives spiritual gifts to all believers and produces His marvelous fruit in their lives (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).
These divine blessings don’t end on earth. They’ll continue in heaven, when the Lord judges Christians to grant rewards for good works they could never have accomplished apart from His strength (1 Corinthians 3:13-14; John 15:5 - ``I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.).
We serve a caring, generous God. He needs nothing from His children but wants every part of us—not for the purpose of exerting authority but to continually shower us with His nonstop goodness. Consider the many gifts He’s freely given you and your loved ones, and ask yourself, How will I respond today?
Bible in One Year: 1 John 1-5
