Resources Available for God’s Family

God’s greatest gift to His children is Jesus Christ, who brings us the

peace of forgiveness, grace for daily living and spiritual growth, and

the hope of eternal life.

“ ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting

life’ ” (John 3:16, NKJV). “But as many as received him, to them gave

he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his

name” (John 1:12).

Salvation, then, is the foundational gift because, without this gift,

what else could we get from God that in the long run would really mat-

ter? Whatever we might have here, one day we will be dead and gone

and so will everyone who ever remembered us, and whatever good we

did will be forgotten, as well. First and foremost, then, we must always

keep the gift of the gospel; that is, Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor.

2:2), at the center of all our thoughts.

And yet, along with salvation, God gives us so much more. To those

who were concerned about their food and clothing, Jesus offered com-

fort by saying, “ ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,

and all these things shall be added to you’ ” (Matt. 6:33, NKJV).

Read Psalm 23:1, Psalm 37:25, and Philippians 4:19. What do these

verses say about God’s provision for our daily needs?

Also, when Jesus talked to His disciples about going away, He prom-

ised the gift of the Holy Spirit to comfort them. “If ye love me, keep

my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you

another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit

of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither

knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in

you” (John 14:15–17). “He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

Then the Spirit Himself gives amazing spiritual gifts to God’s chil-

dren. (See 1 Cor. 12:4–11.)

In short, the God in whom “we live, and move, and have our being”

(Acts 17:28), the God who “ ‘gives to all life, breath, and all things’ ”

(Acts 17:25, NKJV), has given us existence, the promise of salvation,

material blessings, and spiritual gifts in order to be a blessing to others.

Again, whatever material possessions that we have, whatever gifts or

talents we have been blessed with, we are indebted in every way to the

Giver in how we use those gifts.