The Purpose Of A Gift
I Corinthians 12:1-12

What's the best gift you have ever received? Something tangible? Something non-tangible?

Who gave the best gift to you that you have ever received? Your spouse? A child? Parent? A friend? A relative?

When was the best gift given to you that you have ever received? Was it for your birthday? Was it for your anniversary? Was it for Christmas? Was it for no special occasion? A surprise?

What was the cost of the best gift ever given to you?

I can hear some of you thinking, "What do you mean? No one charges for a gift or else it's not a gift!" You are right. A gift is something that someone gives you to enjoy . . . use . . . cherish and it is absolutely FREE!

Paul expresses to the Corinthians that they have been given a gift. That gift spans race and time and carries forward to everyone who lives in now in 2004.

Your Best Gift? Spiritual Life. (v.1-3).

In his book Show Me the Way, Henri Nouwen wrote, "The spiritual life is a gift. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit, who lifts us up into the kingdom of God's love. But to say that being lifted up into the kingdom of love is a divine gift does not mean that we wait passively until the gift is offered to us. Jesus tells us to set our hearts on the kingdom. Setting our hearts on something involves not only serious aspiration but also strong determination. A spiritual life requires human effort."

This spiritual life is ushered in through the death and resurrection of Jesus. His cross and empty tomb are testimonies of a spirit that can receive life. The salvation He offers is for anyone and everyone who will take his call to come to him seriously. (John 6:47).

This spiritual life is for the present moment. This call to live a spiritual life to its fullest is not some "pie in the sky" religion that does nothing now. The exciting part of Christianity is that this call to live life on this planet is to live it with the living God. Jesus has not abandoned us to live fruitless, frustrated lives, but to grab for all the gusto that life offers. We do that by focusing on him and not on ourselves. We begin to ask, "God, what can I do to help You today?" We have reversed it in our minds and hearts. We say, "Ok, God, what is it that You can help me with today?" Now is the day of salvation.

This spiritual life is also for the future. Our time now is limited. Each of us has friends and relatives who have died. We are keenly aware that physical life is counted in decades. We are to do all we can to reach our, potential here, but the Bible informs us that when this life is over it is just the beginning of eternity. John 3:16 joyfully proclaims God's love inside a human gives the right to eternal life. When did this great gift begin in you?