“And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

Most everyone likes to receive gifts. I enjoy receiving gifts from my loved ones. Knowing that they were given in love adds to the blessing. Love is one of the greatest experiences that the Father has given to us. However, no matter how precious our love for others is, it cannot compare with the love of God. Here are some instances of the love of God:

  • John 3:16-The Love the Father had for the Son.
  • Romans 5:8 — The Love of Christ for man in his sinful condition.
  • Ephesians 5:25 —The Love Christ has for the Church.

We can share in these heavenly gifts. If we come in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ we can be partakers of the joys of Christian living. Here are a few of the dividends we reap through trusting in Jesus.

ETERNAL LIFE

In Christ we receive eternal life, and the key word is life. Every person is an eternal being. You will spend eternity in either Heaven or Hell. But if you have been born again you have Eternal Life with the Lord in Heaven. We know that Christ came to give us a richer life (John 10:10). PRAISE GOD THAT HE LOVES US SO MUCH!

SPIRITUAL FOOD

By a careful study of the Word, we see that Christ is our spirit al food. Just as we need food to survive in this world, the child of God also needs food to live by. Some folks cannot see the need for this type of food. Isn’t it great that we have been given the privilege to study the thoughts of the True and Living God as He has revealed Himself to us through the inspired writers? This food gives us strength for our spiritual being and fuel for our journey through this life (1 John 5:20). What the manna was to the Children of Israel in the wilderness, Christ is to His redeemed during their journey here awaiting that day “when we shall be like him” (1 John 3:2).

THE WORD OF GOD

The Great Evangelist of a bygone era, George Whitefield, once asked a coal miner in Cornwall, England what he believed. “Oh,” said he, “I believe what my church believes.” Whitefield then inquired, “And what does your church believe?” “Well,” he answered,

“the church believes what I believe.” Seeing that he was getting nowhere, Whitefield then asked, “What do you both believe?” The coal miner answered, “We both believe the same thing.” This sort of unintelligent faith is pathetic and only brings forth error.

Each Christian should have an unshakable faith in the Bible. The Holy Scriptures are another of the benefits of the Christian life. We should have the desire to let God speak to us in this manner. Dr. George Sweeting, President of Moody Bible Institute, said at the 1975 Founders Week on the Bible: “This book is the unchanged able, unshakable, unmistakable Word of God, and you dare not neglect it. Think of it! Not man’s word, but God’s Word! If the Lord came personally to you, would you ignore Him? Today you stand before the Bible as one stands before a beautiful cathedral. You will never know it’s glory till you enter.”

The Bible is the love letter of God to us. Jesus is coming soon. We have the promises to read, love, cherish and refer to till Jesus comes for His own. Our prayer should be as was that of the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 16:22: “If any man love not the Lord, let him be anathema. Maranatha.” We have the promise of His coming in the Word of God, and it is our privilege to have the Bible.

These are but a few of the gifts we receive because of our accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Have you experienced God’s wonderful and free salvation? A Christian is one who is born of God. It’s the combination of Jesus Christ and you. But there’s more. A Christian is one who is surrendered to God. If there be a need in your life Jesus is waiting to help you.

 

(From Word and Work-Oct 1975 – My 1st article in the Word and Work magazine when Gordon Linscott was Editor.)

Larry Miles is Co-Editor of Word & Work and attends Cherry St. Church of Christ, New Albany, IN.