Gifts Within a Gift

A Gift Inside the Gift

“But while he thought on these things,

behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him

in a dream, saying,

Joseph, thou son of David,

fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife:

for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.”

Matthew 1:20, KJV

Photo by Olya Kobruseva on Pexels.com

My husband handed me a beautifully wrapped box—the size a pair of winter dress boots could be hidden in—and yes, Tom knew how to tie up a present in style. A twinkle in his eyes and a simple smile told me he was pleased with his purchase.

Maybe it wasn’t the boots I had wanted but something more?

Nope. With the last of the paper ripped off, I opened the box revealing the exact pair of boots I had shown him and in the right size. I gave him a big hug and gushed my thank you’s on him. That’s when his smile grew larger.  

“You might want to try them on,” he said.

“Okay.” I slipped on the left one, then grabbed the right boot. I shoved it over my foot, but—frowned and pulled it off. “There’s something in there,” I said reaching deep into the toe. I pulled out a small gift. “What’s this?”

“Open it.”

Inside the large gift Tom had hidden his surprise—a little black velvet box with an engagement ring inside. My squeal rang through our house as tears filled my eyes. Over twenty years had passed since Tom asked me to be his wife. There hadn’t been enough money for an engagement ring—only two matching bands and a declaration of committed love.

The teen girls in our youth group had given Tom the idea. As I thought on what gift our Father prepared for us in the giving of his Son, I remembered the surprise of finding a gift inside the gift, and knew what gift to highlight.

When Jesus, the Son of God, conceived of the Holy Ghost, came into the world, Mary wrapped him in swaddling clothes. Within this tiny package of human flesh dwelt another gift to be given after the Son’s death, resurrection, and ascension to the Father.

“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 14:16,17, KJV

The gift of the Holy Spirit is received by those who—

“Repent, and be baptized every one of you

in the name of Jesus Christ

for the remission of sins,

and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

For the promise is unto you,

and to your children, and to all that are afar off,

even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

Acts 2:38-39, KJV

And within this Gift, many other gifts dwell.

“But ye shall receive power,

after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you …

Thus I say then, Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh …

But the fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,

goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance …”

Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:16; 22-23, KJV

• Power to witness;
• Power over the flesh;
• love,
  • joy,
    • peace,
      • longsuffering,
        • gentleness,
          • goodness,
            • faith,
              • meekness,
                • and temperance.

This list is in no way complete for we are told—

“Now there are diversities of gifts,

but the same Spirit …

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given

to every man to profit withal.

• For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom,
• to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
• To another faith by the same Spirit;
• to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
• To another the working of miracles;
• to another prophecy;
• to another discerning of the spirits;
• to another divers kinds of tongues;
• to another the interpretation of tongues:

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit,

dividing to every man severally as he will.”

1 Corinthians 12:4,7-11, KJV

Only our heavenly Father could contain so many gifts within the gift of one small Child who said—

“And I will pray the Father,

and he shall give you another Comforter,

that he may abide with you for ever;”

***

“Bless the LORD, O my soul:

and all that is within me,

bless his holy name …

and forget not all his benefits:”

Psalm 103: 1, 2b, KJV

As we celebrate Christmas, may we remember to celebrate the Son of the Highest and give him thanks.

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