The gift that changes life – Part 1

A gift or a present is an item given to someone without the expectation of payment or anything in return. An item is not a gift, if it is already owned by the one to whom it is given. Although gift-giving might involve an expectation of reciprocity, a gift is meant to be free. (Wikipedia). If there is a season when gift exchange takes place the most and is celebrated the most, it’s the month of December, the Christmas celebration month.

It is the month the world has chosen to celebrate a life-changing gift that God gave the entire world, but which has different impact and implications in people’s lives globally.
– there are gifts that can decorate you
– there are gifts that can amaze you
– there are gifts that can bless you
Only one gift can change your life! Jesus Christ, the gift of God to the world.

Some even reject the gift because they fail to recognise Him as a gift from God, talk less of the gift changing their lives. John 1:11 says, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”

This is one gift, the rejection of which leads to condemnation. Why? No reasonable person rejects God’s gift! Jesus is so precious and expensive no one can afford Him. So, God had to give Him freely to the world. We keep celebrating the offering of that gift yearly, yet some are yet to receive Him. Many have heard about Him but are yet to hear Him. Many have known about Him but are yet to know Him. This is the majority that we have in Christendom.

If the inn and its owner had known who was to be born, when they sought room for Mary, His mother, they could have made room for Him. That would have changed even the life of that inn for good forever… Many receive gifts about Him – cards, cake, hampers, chicken, ram, cow…

But are yet to receive the real gift. There are gifts you can receive privately and no one will know.
But This is one gift that is received with public proof. Have you received that gift? What is the evidence?
The scripture gives two major evidences as the proof of those who have received the gift we celebrate every Christmas:
John 1:12

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:
Here’s a gift that come with (a). Power and (b). Change of status. This is a gift that requires reciprocity for its impact to be released. Anyone who accepts to be king surrenders himself for crowning and coronation. When you accept this gift, you surrender your life for empowerment. Power:  

Some versions of the Bible calls it right, authority, power. Nothing vhappens in life without the deployment of some kind of power. But every power has its limited area of influence.

Pastor Seyi Adeyemi, Senior Pastor, The Worship Centre (Assembly of Sons & Daughters of Christ Apostolic Church). The Worship Centre, 1, Worship Centre Avenue, Off Kudirat Abiola Way, First Bank Bus Stop, Oregun, Lagos.