If you havent read the first two posts in this three part series, I do suggest you start at the beginning with The Gift and then read The Response before reading today’s post.

Part III: Conclusion

Whenever somebody asks me about my testimony, I get a little bit intimidated because I assume they are looking for that glorious singular instant that changed my life. Sort of like that moment when a man produces a tiny little box and gets down on one knee in front of you, or if you found a small box of a certain blue color hidden under the other presents at the tree. My story isn’t quite so dramatic. Have you ever been sneaky and wrapped up a small prized gift inside many other boxes of increasing size to hide the real present within? Even though I have believed that Jesus is my savior for just about as long as I can remember, I spent a good deal of my life wrapped in layers of entitlement, pride, disobedience, impatience and selfishness. Gradually, I have found that the best way to unwrap myself is to respond to what God has given me in the ways I have just talked about -

by being thankful for all of His gifts and praising Him for who He is,

by doing my best to obey His every command out of love for Jesus and His sacrifice for me,

by using my spiritual gifts to accomplish His purposes, and by striving daily to love others as He has loved me.

That tiny gift under all those layers I will spend a life time unwrapping, is the prize I will receive in Heaven for accomplishing any of the good works He has prepared for me to do here on earth. I’m giddy with excitement each time a new layer is unwrapped because I know I am one step closer to being the woman He wants me to be.

It is our response to His gifts that determines the nature of our relationship with Him. Do we give thanks daily for all He has blessed us with, beginning with our Salvation purchased for us on the cross, and including all things… those as simple as waking up to another day on earth, or as miraculous as the birth of a child, the word, the law, our spiritual gifts and everything in between. Do we show our gratitude by cheerfully sharing His gifts with others? Do we make our faith known by teaching others, discussing His gift when we walk, lie down and rise up? Do we study the story of His infinite love for us? Do we repent and turn away from our sin? Do we daily, or more frequently, ask for and accept His grace? Do we allow Him and His love to rule every area of our lives? Or are we guilty of shoving His gifts into THE closet… you know the one that you would never dare let anyone else open. The process by which we are being made Holy and more perfect is accomplished through our response to the gifts we have received. It is what builds or tears down our relationship with the Giver and with others. This response is the process of sanctification and it determines our reward in heaven. Not our entrance, but our reward.

A story about faithful and evil servants between Peter and Jesus was recorded by Luke in his Gospel. Christ’s message is summed up with the following verse, “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:48. Though the passage is about discipline being more severe for those who knowingly disobey God, I think we can apply the same principles to the idea that to whom much love is given, much love will be required. Or the grace we who’ve been given to so extensively are to extend to others. Or wisdom. Or our spiritual gifts. Or any of our other blessings. The more we are given, the more we will be expected to give in return.

A few years ago My mother moved into a much smaller retirement condo … imagine my surprise and pleasure when I walked into the guest bathroom and there on the wall was the gift, all done up with some lovely artificial greenery fitting in perfectly with her cottage themed décor. When my mother hid my gift to her, I was hurt and saddened. A little piece of our relationship was fractured. But when she put it up on the wall for all to see and enjoy, that broken piece was restored. When I shared my excitement with her she said she had finally found a place to put it. Don’t passively wait for time or space to fit God’s gifts in to your life. Make it happen. Be deliberate in your response by giving thanks for all He has given us, praising Him for who He is, obeying His commands, serving all His children and loving Him and others.

I would like to say that after that one heart to heart, I became a perfect parent, but I doubt any one of you would believe me. The truth is I got lazy and worn out, aggravated and short tempered after a couple of weeks. I found that by going back to my kids and recommitting to our new system of clear standards and consequences I could be re-invigorated by their love. God’s love is like that, too. He doesn’t just pass it out as a one time gift. It is the gift that keeps on giving, more prolific than a subscription to the fruit of the month club. When we grow weary, tire of doing good, or stray from the path He has us walking, God stands ready and waiting for us to come to Him to acknowledge our complete dependence on Him, accept His love and forgiveness, and once again restore our relationship with Him. There is no expiration date or maximum number of uses.

When I realize that I am not giving God all He deserves, that He isn’t getting the best I have to offer, or that I am not acting like someone worthy of being His ambassador, I have the opportunity to make it right with Him. Just like I did with my children, I can beg Him to forgive me for all the ways I fail Him and then ask for His help in doing a better job. And He is faithful to meet me right where I am, to dry my tears and point me back toward the cross where His love for me was poured out.

Each time we return to Him and respond to His gifts, we strengthen our relationship with Him. When we pray, repent, meditate on or study His love letters to us, we will find ourselves recharged to respond to His gifts as we “reach forward to what lies ahead” so we can “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14.

My children showed me a symbol of their love with this token that I get to keep and it stirred my soul and motivated me to action on their behalf. If my children can give me a gift that compelled me to respond, how much more should I respond to the perfect gifts from the Father of Lights. Jesus is the gift that changed the world. Will you allow Him to change you?