Devotionals by Dr. M. Craig Barnes
His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness ... anyone who lacks these things is nearsighted. --
Perhaps you have already given some thought to what presents you would like to receive for Christmas this year. But you probably haven't thought about what you would like God to give to you. So how about it? What is on your spiritual wish list this year?
Near the top of the list you may include things like better health, a new job, or more friends. These things are nice to have, but they aren't really necessary to our souls. It isn't really until we get to the bottom of our lists that we start to identify the things that are crucial for spirituality: forgiving grace, faith, the power of the Holy Spirit, freedom, mission, and calling. These things, crucial to our souls, are gifts we can receive only from God. But according to St. Peter, God already gave every one of these things when he gave you his son.
From the perspective of heaven, anyone who is spiritually in need looks like a nearsighted person at a banquet. You can keep praying for God to feed you, or you can simply partake of the bounty of his provisions. You've already received every spiritual blessing. In giving you his Son and his Spirit, the Heavenly Father gave you all he has. He held nothing back.
The only thing left to ask for this Christmas is better vision to see the grace, faith, power, freedom, and calling we already have.
-- Craig Barnes