Eternal Life
Unwrap It!
Gifts! Who doesn’t like to receive a gift?
Presents wrapped with brightly colored paper and bows.
A gift tag with your name on it.
Someone holding a gift and offering, “Take it. I bought it for you.”
As difficult as it may be for us to understand, this is what God the Father and Christ offer us – the gift of salvation. It can only be received, not earned or bought.
Romans 6:23 explains, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Yes, in spite of our sin, the Lord offers us the “free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Did it cost Him? Yes. It cost our Heavenly Father His only begotten Son’s life. It cost Jesus pain, humiliation, suffering, and death.
When we open God’s gift of eternal life the first thing we see is forgiveness, which gives us such joy and freedom. Then we see the gift of His Holy Spirit and are overwhelmed.
Included in the gift of eternal life is heaven, eternity, glory, peace, joy, and so much more!
Each day we realize there’s more of God’s gift to unwrap. The Gift Giver smiles as our eyes light up in joyful praise.
Lord God, thank You for being GIVING and for the incredible GIFT of eternal life. We love and praise You.
Our mission at Hill Country Ministries is to spread the Word and love of Jesus. We want others to know Christ and receive the gift of eternal life. Help us by sharing 365 Days of Praise using the social media icons, below, or by forwarding to a friend through email. You can also help by subscribing to Debbie’s YouTube channel. Having more subscribers allows us to reach more viewers.
Keep Looking for Opportunities
Are you concerned for a family member or friend who refuses to trust Jesus for salvation? Are you worried they’ll die apart from Christ? If we’re concerned for the unsaved, it’s for good reason. This world isn’t all there is. There is life beyond the clouds that we can’t see just as there is life below the oceans we can’t see. Yes, all people are alive after they pass through this life – either in Christ’s presence or apart from Him for eternity. Jesus implores us to take the way to heaven – through Him. So, what do we do if an unsaved friend or family member refuses to turn to Christ? We align ourselves with the Lord, who we’re told in 2 Peter 3:9 is “not slow about His promise, but is PATIENT…, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” God is PATIENT. Keep praying. Keep looking for opportunities to speak the truth in love.
Heavenly Father, thank you for being PATIENT. Help us be like you – patient and prayerful.
Unwrap It!
Gifts! Who doesn’t like to receive a gift? Presents wrapped with brightly colored paper and bows. A gift tag with OUR name on it. And most importantly, someone holding the gift and offering, “Take it! I bought it for you!” Beaming, our Lord God waits for us to take the gift described in Romans 6:23. That in spite of our sin, He offers the “free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Our Heavenly Father gives us a gift that cost His Son’s life. Forgiveness is the first thing we see in the gift. Then the gifts of His Holy Spirit, heaven, friendship, eternity, and so much more! With each day, we realize there’s more of God’s love to unwrap. The Gift Giver smiles as our eyes light up in joyful praise.
Lord God, thank You for GIVING us the GIFT of eternal life in Christ Jesus and for all that is encompassed in the gift of His life! We praise You.
Unwrap It!
Gifts! Who doesn’t like to receive a gift? Presents wrapped with brightly colored paper and bows. A gift tag with OUR name on it. And most importantly, someone holding the gift and offering, “Take it! I bought it for you!” Beaming, our Lord God waits for us to take the gift described in Romans 6:23. That in spite of our sin, He offers the “free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Our Heavenly Father gives us a gift that cost His Son’s life. Forgiveness is the first thing we see in the gift. Then the gifts of His Holy Spirit, heaven, friendship, eternity, and so much more! With each day, we realize there’s more of God’s love to unwrap. The Gift Giver smiles as our eyes light up in joyful praise.
Lord God, thank You for GIVING us the GIFT of eternal life in Christ Jesus and for all that is encompassed in the gift of His life! We praise You.
Unwrap It!
Gifts! Who doesn’t like to receive a gift? Presents wrapped with brightly colored paper and bows. A gift tag with OUR name on it. And most importantly, someone holding the gift and offering, “Take it! I bought it for you!” Beaming, our Lord God waits for us to take the gift described in Romans 6:23. That in spite of our sin, He offers the “free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Our Heavenly Father gives us a gift that cost His Son’s life. Forgiveness is the first thing we see in the gift. Then the gifts of His Holy Spirit, heaven, friendship, eternity, and so much more! With each day, we realize there’s more of God’s love to unwrap. The Gift Giver smiles as our eyes light up in joyful praise.
Lord God, thank You for GIVING us the GIFT of eternal life in Christ Jesus and for all that is encompassed in the gift of His life! We praise You.
Praise to God, Gift Giver
“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Gifts! Who doesn’t like to receive a gift? Presents wrapped with brightly colored paper and bows. A gift tag with OUR name on it. And most importantly, someone who loves us holding the gift and offering, “Take it! I bought it for you!”
Beaming, our Lord God waits for us to take the gift He bought for us; a gift that cost His Son’s life.
Forgivesess is the first thing we see in the gift. Then His Holy Spirit, heaven, friendship eternity, and so much more! And with each day, we realize there’s more of God’s love to unwrap. The Gift Giver smiles as our eyes light up in joyful praise.
Lord God, thank You for GIVING us the GIFT of eternal life in Christ Jesus and for all that is encompassed in the gift of His life! We praise You!
GOD of the LIVING
“…regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB”? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”
Matthew 22:31-32
Jesus is the one talking. He has just told those who were asking Him questions that they were mistaken about some things. Imagine that! That we humans might be mistaken about some things. Then Jesus used the Old Testament to rectify their thinking. To those who discount the importance of the Old Testament, please reconsider its relevancy. Jesus often quoted from it. And what did He quote? That GOD IS NOT THE GOD OF THE DEAD, BUT OF THE LIVING. Do you have a loved one who is no longer alive in your presence? Well, be assured on the basis of Jesus’s words – your loved one is alive.
GOD of the LIVING, I praise You for receiving my loved one into your presence. Thank You that I will be alive in Your presence one day, also.
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God of the Living
Friends,
Keith’s mother, Grace, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday morning. His brothers, Kenneth and Gayle, their wives, Loes and Cyndie, and Keith and I had the privilege of sitting by her bedside her last days. I say privilege because it was just that. Grace was a wonderful woman and it was an honor to be with her, pray for her, and share that time as a family. Needless to say, we are all sad. However, with that sadness is a quiet joy as we reflect on the glorious reunions she is having in heaven…first with her Lord, then with those who have gone before her. I’ve had a smile on my face numerous times as I’ve thought about Grace and my mother seeing each other again!
As I thought of Grace this morning during my quiet time, my heart went to Matthew 22:31-32 where Jesus expounds on the afterlife. “But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”What powerful words for us to remember. God is the God of the living! Add that to your 200 A-Z Names, Attributes, and Titles of God.
Along with that passage, my heart raced to one of my favorite passages and one I often teach on at the P.R.A.Y. Conference: Luke 9:29-32. “And while He (Jesus) was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.”
Friends, this passage is awesome! First, we’re taught that if we need a face lift, a change of countenance, it’s found in prayer. Second, in regard to death, Christ’s teaching that God is the God of the living is reinforced. Moses and Elijah are alive. They are in glory. They are distinguishable and recognizable. Third, Jesus’s death is not spoken of as a tragedy, but rather as His departure. Just as I board a plane to depart from San Antonio to fly to your city to lead a conference, Jesus had a departure day, time, and place. He had a destination: heaven. So do we, if we have confessed our sins and professed our faith, “Jesus is Lord.”
If you have never called on the name of the Lord for your salvation, I beg you to do so today. We never know when our departure will be. However, we can know our destination. Jesus has died so that we might be saved. Won’t you call on Him today? Join those who are headed to heaven and those who are already in God’s presence in glory. If you need help with Bible verses or a prayer of salvation to pray, please see How to Know Jesus on my web site. Or, email me at debbie@hillcountryministries.org or call me toll free 888-815-8412. I would love to visit with you or pray with you.
Love,
Debbie