9/17/20 - NO RETURNS NECESSARY

“Every gift God freely gives us is good and perfect, streaming down from the Father of lights, who shines from the heavens with no hidden shadow or darkness and is never subject to change.”

‭‭James 1:17‬ ‭TPT‬‬

During the holiday season retailers brace themselves for billions of dollars in return items. Gift receipts allows the recipients to return or exchange the unwanted items. Some consumers even return things they wore- liked it but not enough to keep it. Another way of avoiding all that is regifting. We like what we got, but have no need for it and believe someone else could benefit from it. But there are some gifts that we will never part with. Especially if it’s something we’ve always wanted.

In today’s scripture verse the Giver and the Gift are One. Everything He gives us is worth keeping. The good and perfect gift we received from the Father is Jesus Christ His Son, and now by His Spirit we have been sealed for eternity. There’s no return receipt but there is regifting. We call Him the Gift that keeps on giving. We get to keep what we also give away. How amazing is that?

Once we have partaken of the Gift of life we are compelled to share. If we try to keep it to ourselves we cry out like Jeremiah. It’s like fire shut up in our bones! The more we regift it the more we have to give away. Jesus the living Word, the Good and Perfect Gift, the One in whom there is no shadow of turning, no sleight of hand, the One who we can truly say what you see is truly what you’ve received, has perfected us into Himself.

“And by his one perfect sacrifice He made us perfectly holy and complete for all time!

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:14 TPT‬‬

There is no need for a do over, there’s no refund, exchanging or returns. We have all received perfection through His sacrifice,The divine exchange. His life for ours, His obedience for our disobedience, His strength for our weaknesses, His health for our sickness, His wealth for our poverty. The Father forsook Him momentarily, so that we’ll never be forsaken eternally. His glory for our shame, His perfection for our imperfections. He came from heaven to a world filled with hate and turmoil, darkness and despair, to introduce us to heaven on earth. God’s perfect Gift.

“In the same way that nursing infants cry for milk, you must intensely crave the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word. For this “milk” will cause you to grow into maturity, fully nourished and strong for life— especially now that you have had a taste of the goodness of the Lord Jehovah and have experienced his kindness.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:2-3‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Peter encourages us to continually crave that which nourishes the Gift we have received. This Good and Perfect Gift. The Word that became flesh. We’ve tasted and experienced His goodness, it’s a continuous feast. We’re lifers. No returns here. He chose us, we didn’t choose Him. John 15:16. He brought perfection to imperfection. What would be the exchange? The Gift we have received has brought us life. Eternal life. The God kind of life.

The writer of Hebrews say of this Perfect Gift.

“Afterwards, I will give them this covenant: I will embed my laws into their hearts and fasten my Word to their thoughts.” And then He says, “I will not ever again remember their sins and lawless deeds!” So if our sins have been forgiven and forgotten, why would we ever need to offer another sacrifice for sin? And now we are brothers and sisters in God’s family because of the blood of Jesus, and he welcomes us to come into the most holy sanctuary in the heavenly realm—boldly and without hesitation. For He has dedicated a new, life-giving way for us to approach God. For just as the veil was torn in two, Jesus’ body was torn open to give us free and fresh access to Him ! And since we now have a magnificent High Priest to welcome us into God’s house, we come closer to God and approach Him with an open heart, fully convinced that nothing will keep us at a distance from Him. For our hearts have been sprinkled with blood to remove impurity, and we have been freed from an accusing conscience. Now we are clean, unstained, and presentable to God inside and out! So now wrap your heart tightly around the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps His promises! Discover creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love.

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:16-24 TPT‬‬

No returns necessary. Freely we have received freely we give. Regifting encouraged. Jesus the new and living way, pours into us so we can pour into others. He’s the Gift that keeps on giving.

Heavenly Father in the Name above every name, Jesus Christ, we thank you for Your Unspeakable Gift Jesus. We are forever sealed by His blood, no condemnation in Your presence, fully clothed in his righteousness, deeply and forever loved. Wow! When we pause to consider all You have done for us in Christ we are in awe. No returns, no exchanges, we are purchased for life. Thank you for Your costly Gift. We’re forever grateful. Amen

Written by permission of the Holy Spirit

W. Tennant