Did you know God has a gift for you? There are many who haven’t heard about this, but I assure you it is true. Some folks might be thinking...what do I have to do to earn this gift. So I have to make this clear right up front. If you have to work for something, or are required to earn it, than it is not a gift.
The gift God has for you is given with the motive of pure love. The value of the gift should say volumes to you about how much He loves you, and wants to have a meaningful relationship with you.
The first part of John 3:16 says, For God so loved the world that he gave...The phrase, “God so loved”, is a statement of degree. It is a revelation of how much God truly loves us.
Ephesians 2:8. For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God:
From these two verses we get this understanding. God so loved the world that He gave a gift. The gift was given by grace...we did not earn it, nor could we. And the gift was given to every one on Earth (the world) as an expression of God’s love. God is offering everyone this gift, but everyone has not received this precious gift.
If I wanted to give you a million dollars, but you refused to receive it, that money wouldn’t help you at all. With even the best of intentions on my part, if you wouldn’t receive my gift, you couldn’t spend it.
John 1:12 says, to all who received him, (Jesus) to those who believed in his name, he (God) gave the right to become children of God.
Did you catch that? The gift of God is a person! Earlier I quoted the first part of John 3:16, this is the whole verse. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Did you noticed that believing is equated with receiving?
When you receive/believe in Jesus, you are receiving what amounts to a Spiritual treasure. Along with God’s love, you are receiving his forgiveness, grace, mercy, eternal life, and more. It’s a package deal.
Ephesians 1:13, 14 [NIV] And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory. Please Note, God even guarantees that if we receive his gift (Jesus), we will receive all he has promised us.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
When we receive/believe in Jesus Christ, instantly the work of God takes effect for us, in us, and on us. And all manner of Spiritual blessing are open to us.
The blessings are ours in Christ, and not in what we do, or in our ability to earn them. We can’t earn the gift any more than we can earn or buy God’s love. What an insult, and how arrogant to think that we could.
1John 4:8 &16 says, “God is love.” So God loves you and me , and all the people on this planet because of who he is, and not because we are so great. God is the one who is GREAT! God has a treasure he is patiently waiting for you to receive.
God will not force his love on anyone because that’s not the way love acts. I encourage you right now, if you want to receive the gift God has for you, put your hands out just like you were receiving a large gift package, and say, (in a heart prayer) “Yes I want to receive Jesus”. God hears the prayer from the heart anywhere.
Think of Jesus on the cross with his arms out stretched, he is saying, “God loves you this much.” Please believe it, and say YES to Jesus, God’s gift, and personal message of love to you.
Also: John 6:28,29 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
You may ask, what if I choose not to believe? John 3:35, 36 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."
God loves you, believe it, and receive his gift. Heaven is our gift in Jesus.
