Mindy Lee Hopman

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 (NASB)

The Perfect Gift

Don’t you just love a good gift? To give a good gift you have to know someone well. When another person knows you well, a thoughtful gift can touch the heart and warm the soul. 

God gave the world the The Greatest Gift – His Son. The Greatest Gift came to the world to live as a human, and to die so that death could be overcome. 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NASB)  

When I look at this gift with my finite eyes, and from my human perspective, I cannot comprehend it. In a snapshot of His big picture of time, God gave a gift straight out of His heart and into mine. 

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NASB)

When we accept His perfect gift, who is Jesus Christ, we answer the general call on our lives. Our lives may be heading in one direction, but God gets ahold of our hearts for His purposes and His glory.

An entire life pivots to follow Him when the call is answered. 

But when God… Galatians 1:15 (NASB) 

 

For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. 2 Chronicles 16:9a (NASB) 

The New Creation

Once you accept God’s call on your life and you choose to accept the free gift of Jesus, He places a Spiritual gift within you to bring together the Body of Christ in a powerful way that is above and beyond anything you can imagine in this world! 

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NASB) 

You are a new creation in Christ!

The Enemy

But don’t be surprised when doubt sweeps in quickly to steal your joy. 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10 (NASB)

 

The Grace

Our Heavenly Father has adopted us as His own. The past is gone, so hold onto the present. God has covered you with the free gift of His grace.

God does not wish us to remember, except as a reminder of our dependence, for he is willing to forget anything. George A Buttrick, Devotional Classics 

…always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence. 1 Peter 3:15 (NASB)

Some will come against you and try to put out the light. Some will try to deceive you into thinking you must do more to receive God’s love. Some will tell you you are not worthy. 

There is an opponent in this world greater than what you can see, and you are in a fierce battle for your faith. Beloved, be ready to contend for your faith with  the truth in gentleness and reverence.

The Light

God sent His Son, The Greatest Gift, for the world. You believed and received the gift, so that you may let the Light shine for others to see!

Now is not the time to back down. Now is the time to be bold in our faith because, remember, in Christ, our identity has changed! 

My new identity in Christ:
In His death (Romans 6:3; Galatians 2:20, Colossians 3:1-3)
In His burial (Romans 6:4)
In His resurrection (Romans 6:5, 8, 11)
In His ascension (Ephesians 2:6)
In His Life (Romans 5:10, 11)
In His Power (Ephesians 1:19, 20)
In His Inheritance (Romans 8:16,17; Ephesians 1:11, 12)

Your old self had to die to sever your relationship with sin, which dominated it. Being a saint or a child of God does not mean you are sinless (1 John 1:8). But since your old self has been crucified and buried with Christ, you no longer have to sin (1 John 2:1). You sin when you choose to believe a lie or act independently from God. Death is the end of a relationship, not the end of existence. Neil Anderson, The Bondage Breaker 

In Christ, you are free! You have become untethered to the world, and tethered to the One Who Saves! 

In Him, let’s go into the world today and give 100% because we do know what tomorrow will bring! 

Heavenly Father, I praise You for who You are yesterday, today, and tomorrow. When You gave The Greatest Gift over 2,000 years ago, You made the adversary very jealous. The battle for our souls continues today. Thank you for Scripture, which clarifies that we are identified with You in Your death, resurrection, and power when we believe in You. We are not in this battle alone. You have gifted us with the Holy Spirit’s power, and for that, I am grateful. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen