“So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” Matthew 7:11
I can remember my parents going to great lengths to give us gifts, especially on holidays and birthdays. I remember one Christmas, in particular, that it seemed they went way beyond anything my eleven-year-old mind expected. Even with a meager income, they often went above and beyond to get us gifts. On Easter, my mom especially, made sure we had Easter baskets chocked full of goodies. One year my Easter basket included a chocolate bunny my Grandma had made, and boy was it delicious. Even as a parent myself, there’s nothing that brings me more happiness than to give one of my kids a gift, especially if it’s something they really want, but don’t expect to get.
In Matthew 7:11, Jesus is teaching a multitude of people who had gathered on a hillside and He speaks in terms they can understand. He knows that as parents they love to give gifts to their children too, so He uses this to illustrate how much more their Heavenly Father loves to give them gifts. As they sat there taking in every word, none of them could imagine the Gift that would be coming soon. “The Gift” who was teaching them that day would soon die on a cross, thus paying the sin debt for all mankind.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave is only begotten Son, so that whosever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” In this verse we see the two “BIGGEST Gifts” the Father gave. The first, His Son Jesus, the second, everlasting life which is the “Abundant Life” Jesus speaks of in John 10:10. This life not only includes Heaven as our future home, but life “to the full” for those who receive it by faith.
Today, bring joy to the Father’s heart by receiving the gift of Jesus and the Abundant Sozo Life He offers.