Sunday June 21, 2020 Sis Shawnta Harris
Accepting a Gift
Generally, there isn’t anything hard about accepting a gift. You just open it and say “thank you”, right?
But there are some things to remember about your tone and body language. Remember our lesson on
thankfulness? You show good etiquette in the way you accept a gift.
The Bible has a lot to say about the ultimate gift that God gave us, Jesus Christ. Many people know the
verse John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. They hold it up at football games and it is one of the most memorized verses. Let’s slow down and think about it…God gave, but it’s up to us to receive. Every one of us has the freedom to accept the gift of salvation God extended to us. He doesn’t force anyone. And when we accept His gift, we are so grateful because we understand that if it wasn’t for God choice to be good to us, we did not have a chance to earn salvation. Have you decided to accept the gift of your sins being washed from you by the blood of Jesus?
And then there is the gift that Christ sent to be with us, the Holy Spirit. In John 14:26 Jesus says “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” God’s own Spirit can live in you and be with you every moment of everyday! Luke 11:13 says, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to
them that ask Him?”.
Finally, once you have accepted the gift of the Holy Spirit, He will give you spiritual gifts. I Corinthians 12:8-11 explains, “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophesy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tounges; to another the interpretation of tounges: but all theses worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man as he wills”. The Holy Spirit gives you gifts that will help others and He chooses what gift will be yours.
So back to our lesson, accepting a gift. No matter what the gift is, the point is that someone thought enough of you, took the time and effort to choose it for you, and gave it to you with the expectation that the gesture will be appreciated. Gratefulness is always the right response!
How do you accept a gift?
Say “thank you” as soon as you open the gift. Don’t say, “Oh, this really isn’t my color.”
Why?
“Thank you” is the only appropriate response for any gift you receive. You don’t have to lie and say, “Oh, I love fuchsia!” But you do say “Thank you for the pretty sweater, Aunt Tina.”
How do you accept a gift?
Take the time to acknowledge every gift you open when there are many gifts to be opened-at your birthday party, for example. Don’t tear through your gifts like you’re racing against the clock. Don’t go on and on about your favorite gifts and barely acknowledge the others.
Why?
When you are opening your gifts at a party, it is fun for your guests to see what everyone else has brought. While one person may have been able to afford a more expensive gift, or purchased just what you wanted, you don’t want anyone else to feel as though their gift wasn’t good enough for you.
Opening them at a natural pace will allow you to keep the gifts and cards together, which will be important later when you write thank you notes. You can always save a more enthusiastic thank you for the thank you note you will send.
3 Scriptures About Accepting a Gift
1) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.
Ephesians 2:8
2) For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:17
3) As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
I Peter 4:10