Are we expecting a great present this month?

And when we get it we say “Thank You,” whether we like it or not. The Scriptures tell us we should be thankful for everything.  I tell my loved ones that no one has an obligation to give us anything and if they do it is out of their heart and that’s something to be grateful about. I know, though, there are many kinds of presents and some are not all worth thanking for because they might not be intended for our goodness, yet they reveal the real intentions of the giver. In that case we should thank the Lord we realized it before it was too late to make a wise choice.

The presents motivated by LOVE represent all the good feelings the word is supposed to mean because Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly, it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account the wrong suffered. . . (ICorinthians 13.4-5)  If people who are supposed to love each other thought that way there would be less divorces and we all would be behaving the way we should to be in accord with God’s will. But not everyone is interested in doing God’s will. Some do not care and others think it is impossible. Jesus Himself said it to His disciples:  “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”(Matthew 17. 20) So if our faith is weak, we might not be able to do anything.

Another kind of present or gift is the one of the word. We expect with wonder, amazement, the revelation of a most desired statement from the chosen one, like “I love you” or the hoped for question: “Would you marry me?” But when the words, especially from someone you care about, are too harsh or perhaps conniving we feel very bad and if they come out of the least expected one, we feel deceived. The scriptures say: Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. (Ephesians 5.6) I wish they all repent so the wrath of God doesn’t have to come upon them.

Now, the greatest gift we can get, not only this month, but any time, is a very special one that if we have it we can consider ourselves privileged for everything that will do for us, and that is The Holy Spirit.  God’s Word says: Behold I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. (Proverbs 1.23) Jesus Himself gives It to us: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. (John 14.16,17)  And He will take care of us so we don’t err. . .the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words. (Romans 8.26)

With that gift/present from God we can overcome in this world (which is not our future dwelling place.) Yet as long as we inhabit in it must follow the ways Jesus taught us if we want to live eternally with Him and He said according to Matthews: Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall NOT be forgiven, even in this age or in the age to come.  ( Matthew 12.32)   Blasfemy against the Spirit SHALL NOT BE FORGIVEN (verse 31)