All We Have To Do Is Ask

Matt. 7:11 -"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!"   NASU

• Jesus' Comparison

 In our scripture text today Jesus is comparing human parents with our Heavenly Father. Jesus speaks the truth when He says we who are evil know how to give good gifts to our children. We all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory (Romans 3:23), but even in this fallen state of wickedness we know how to give good gifts to our children. 

• What Are Some Of The Gifts?

 As you read this Pump Up what are some of the gifts you have received from your parents or gifts that you have given to your children?
 
I can remember getting plenty of gifts on my birthday and at Christmas time. When I was seven years of age I received my first pony (Trigger), at 10 years of age I received a bicycle and at 15 I would receive an Ithaca 20 gauge shotgun. Yes, my parents knew how to give good gifts.
 
One of the best gifts I received and I didn't know I was getting it at the time was the value of working hard at your job. I worked for my dad from the age of 12 - 18 and anyone that ever worked for him would tell you same thing when you punched the timecard to start work he expected a day's work for a day's pay.
 
I would carry that mindset to every job and in fact it is still with me to this day. I guess you could call that the gift that kept on giving. 

• Gifts From Above

 When was the last time we stopped to think about the "Gifts" God has given to us? I am going to assume that maybe some of us haven't thought about these "heavenly gifts" in a while. So I am going to list just a few for us to dwell on and give Him thanks for sending them our way.
 
The first time the word "gift" is used in the New Testament is in John 4:10 - Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." 
 
The "gift" that is being referenced here to the woman at the well is Jesus Christ Himself. He is the "gift" of God. Jesus was and is the "gift" that God gave to this world and without Him we would all be in trouble.
 
Acts 2:38 - Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
 
In this passage of scripture we can see the Holy Spirit is the "gift" we are able to receive from our Heavenly Father.
 
Justification is also identified as a "gift" from God and is connected to redemption. What does it mean to be a recipient of the "gift" of Justification? One of my professors Dr. Jack Cottrell said it this way:
 
"The best way for a Christian to understand what it means to be justified is to picture himself as a defendant standing in a courtroom before God as the presiding Judge, and to hear God pronounce His verdict: 'No penalty for you!' … To be justified thus does not mean   that God treats me just as if I'd never sinned, but rather just as if I'd already paid my penalty."
 
The apostle Paul said it this in Romans 3:21-24 - But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;…
 
Justification is another "gift' from God. One can easily see that our Heavenly Father really does know how to give us awesome gifts.
 
Think About This:
 
Justice is what we get when the decision is in our favor.
 
God cares for people through people.
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 Stay Pumped, 

Gary A. Serago
 
Minister of God's Word