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August 16 Valuing the Gift

He who obeys instruction guards his life, but he who is contemptuous of his ways will die. ~Proverbs 19:16 


He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.” ~Luke 8:21 

If you love Me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, and He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him. ~John 14:15-21 

How would you feel if you gave someone a thoughtful gift, that you had searched hard and long to find and then, right before your eyes, you saw them misuse that gift for a purpose other than for which it was intended. A simple example might be, suppose you bought them a special hammer, with just the right heft to it because you knew that they were interested in building and carpentry and you wanted to encourage their interest. You give it to them, and, instead of using it for creating they say, “Awesome! Thanks!” and then begin running around smashing everything in sight, just for the fun of it. Mightn’t you say that they were holding your gift in contempt? 

Or, suppose you give her a new outfit for her first day of school or work, but, instead she chooses to use it for getting up wood, or going swimming. Would you feel appreciated, or rather, would you feel that your gift had been treated with contempt? Or what if they just took the gift, put it on a shelf, and never use it or even mention it again. Then there is, “regifting.” That’s when the gift is received, but not really liked, and soon given away to somebody else. Perhaps people pleasers fit this one. They are not living for what God intended but to “make others happy.”

“He who obeys instruction guards his life, but he who is contemptuous of his ways will die.” Life itself is THE a most valuable gift. It was thought up by our creator Himself for a purpose. It was intended for the use of bringing Him glory. How sad that too many of His creation do not value the life they have been given but treat it with contempt through abuse and misuse. 

“Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him.” Obedience, or using our lives as they are intended to be used, is one way we show God the Father and Jesus the Son, how much we appreciate what we have been given. Jesus goes as far as to say He considers us His brothers when we obey His commands. What a high honor that is. 

Then, because God knows that there are times that obedience may be hard, He has also blessed us with His Holy Spirit, living inside of us, to help us even further to get it right. It should be a fail proof plan, but our struggle to do what’s right continues making our demonstration of appreciation difficult at times. Everyone on this earth, who has lived before and who will come after us, has been given this gift of life. Each gift is unique just as each one’s purpose is unique. As we share the knowledge that we have of the gospel, we are simply trying to help others who don’t know, aware of the Gift Giver, so that they can show their appreciation too. 

Prayer: Oh Lord, every one of us is a prodigal child to some extent, squandering the beautiful gift of life on worldly pleasures. Or else we are like Job in his misery undervaluing the gift itself when it is hampered by suffering. Yet, we also have faith in some measure! Thank You for life! Help me to obey You, rather than sin! And help me praise You, even while suffering. Then, my life well lived will draw others to You as I lift up Your name! In Jesus’ name, amen.  

Song: Life is Beautiful 

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