the only gift that keeps on giving

John 14:27(NIV)
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Jesus is the only gift that keeps on giving. And He gives not as the world gives. Which begs the question, "How does the world give?" Matthew Henry decribes it this way, "The world’s gifts concern only the body and time; Christ’s gifts enrich the soul for eternity: the world gives lying vanities, and that which will cheat us; Christ gives substantial blessings, which will never fail us: the world gives and takes; Christ gives a good part that shall never be taken away. The peace which Christ gives is infinitely more valuable than that which the world gives. The world’s peace begins in ignorance, consists with sin, and ends in endless troubles; Christ’s peace begins in grace, consists with no allowed sin, and ends at length in everlasting peace."

In this season of giving, I pause to reflect on the ever-giving, gift of Jesus who gives me ....
.... Himself, day after day, His mercies are new each morning.
.... Faith to stand firm on His promises.
.... Grace to face anything that comes my way.
.... Forgiveness for all of my sins.
.... Conviction that leads to repentance and wholeness.
.... Love that knows no bounds and embraces who I really am.
.... New life, transforming me through trials into His likeness.
.... Light that I might recognize the darkness in and around me.
.... Righteousness to stand before God the Father pure and clean.
.... Unhindered access to the very throne of God.
.... Meaningful work, to impact the world around me.
.... A new heart that beats with His Spirit.
.... His eyes to see what matters for eternity.
.... A family of believers to encourage and strengthen me.
.... Purpose beyond anything I could ask or imagine.
.... Confidence, that He will never let me go.

I'll stop now, because the list is endless.

Jesus gave Himself once and for all on the cross, the final sacrifice, but He continues to give, day after day. He is the only gift that truly keeps on giving.

Sinless

Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in EVERY way, just as we are - yet was without sin.

This truth has struck me this week in a new way. Jesus was tempted in every way ... not only tempted outwardly, but inwardly, yet was without sin. I have been fooling myself for some time now. In the last decade, God has taken me on a beautiful journey of healing and forgiveness. I am no longer prone to outward sins. I can exercise a degree of self-control. I have learned to hold my tongue in most instances. I don't get drunk. I am not committing adultery. I am not addicted to pornography. I am not lying, stealing, murdering. I am polite and kind to people. I try to recognize pride in my life. From the outside, I have cleaned up my act significantly from days past. For a long time, I interpreted this scripture to mean Jesus didn't commit these sins. And that is true. But Jesus redefined sin to include the heart and mind. And here is where I have been fooling myself.

Inwardly, in my mind and my heart, I am prone to sin. Judgements pass so quickly through the brain. Anger bursts in the nerve centers of my mind. Resentment and bitterness linger deep in my heart. Unforgiveness grows roots in my soul. Jesus was tempted in EVERY way and yet was without sin. He didn't sin in His mind. He didn't entertain sinful thoughts. Oh He was tempted, but He did not sin even in the inward places. Not only were His actions pure, but His heart and mind were too. I can barely fathom this and yet I want it. Scripture says I have the mind of Christ. I can be holy even in the inward places. I can love people with my actions and my heart and my mind. I can because Jesus lives in me.

I want to see my sin in all its ugly reality so I can bring it to Him. I am praying daily for God to truly renew my mind and birth holiness there. I want to have thoughts of love for all people and to be clean in my mind and heart.

I try to imagine the depth of the temptation Christ endured and yet remained sinless. I give in so quickly. I allow sin to play in my thoughts even if I don't act on it. In the words of Paul, "What a wretched woman I am! Who will save me from this body of death!" The answer is Jesus. Always Jesus. Teaching me, changing me, molding me into His likeness. Jesus. The perfect, sinless Savior in EVERY way.