THE PERFECT GIFT by Alex Kioko

in Monthly Beacon By Mccu Literature on 28 Feb 2025

February has always been portrayed as the month of love and gifts because of the day we all know about, Valentine's Day. We all value the gifts we receive from our loved ones because they are given out of kindness and love and bring joy and happiness to us.

This builds stronger relationships and can also be a bridge to establishing relationships with people or reciprocating the love we get. Gifts we receive from our loved ones are good and heartwarming, however, they only last a while. They may get lost or stolen, consumed, damaged, or age over time. But here comes the question. What do you regard as a perfect gift? The Bible says in James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (NIV)

GOD’S GIFT OF LOVE

God`s unconditional love is the first gift we have from Him above all other gifts. Because of His love for us, He gave his only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins to restore our severed relationship with Him and save us from damnation. Through His love, according to Ephesians 1:3-14, we receive many blessings from Him. He chose us in Christ Jesus to be holy and blameless in His sight. Through His love, we are predestined for adoption to sonship, and through His grace, we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins. God´s gift of love brings more gifts to us, gifts given to us through the Holy Spirit after we believed the gospel of salvation; the gifts of faith, knowledge, wisdom, preaching, prophecy, speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues, performing miracles and healing. Paul, in the book of 1 Corinthians, tells us to desire these gifts.

GOD’S GIFT OF LOVE BORE THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION

Acquiring gifts comes at the expense of the gift giver, which can be limiting depending on what he/she can afford. God is rich in love, and His love is limitless and unconditional. This makes God´s gift of love the perfect gift. We can never give a perfect gift to others, however we can accompany material gifts with the gospel of salvation. This is the best gift you can give. Gifts we give as Christian students should have an impact. They should be given with love and have the message of God´s love in them.

Kindness and compassion also compel gifting. Society has people in need of us, and gifting satisfies their needs. It´s important to share what God has blessed us with, doing it in the glory of God. Matthew 25:40-45. “The King will reply, ´Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters, you did it for me´”

More to the perfect gift

God´s gift of love is available to everyone.

God showed His love to us even when we were sinners. Romans 5:7-8, John 3:16

God´s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:5