A Gift frrom God

 I well remember one Christmas morning when my Dad gave me a new bike – it was a beautiful blue B.S.A. “Tour de France” and I absolutely loved it. I don’t know what my Dad felt about giving me the bike, but I am sure it gave him a great deal of pleasure to see my reaction and to know how much I appreciated it.

Years later, I was able to reciprocate in a way, when I tracked down a video (you remember videos, right?) of my Dad’s favourite film, the Mel Brooks comedy “The Producers”. It wasn’t so readily available, so I ordered it in specially from W H. Smith’s – something I knew my Dad wouldn’t have thought to do! His reaction when he opened it was unmistakeably joyful (think small boy in a sweet shop!) and I really treasure the memory of that moment.

I wonder what you would say are the best gifts you have ever received, and given? How did those experiences of giving and receiving make you feel? Go on, have a think – I’d love to hear your answers!

In the month ahead at EBC, we’ll be pondering together the gifts that God, the Holy Spirit, gives to us. These are listed in various places in the Bible and although the lists given are not always identical, we can get the sense of their consistency although different words might be used here and there.

For our series, we are going to look at the gifts that appear to be used in what we might call natural ways (serving, teaching etc.) and those that appear to be more along the supernatural line (healing, prophesy etc.). I really hope that we will all be able to recognise that God, in His absolute Sovereignty, gives us whatever gifts He chooses to, but that they are, in a sense, all supernatural, for they are all the gifts of the one Holy Spirit, the one God.

I hope too that we will all learn to recognise, cherish and use the gifts that God has given us, to His glory and to our joy.

Much love,

Simon