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Refreshment in Refuge

    by Gina Burgess

Have You Unwrapped Your Christmas Gift?
Date Posted: July 3, 2022

Under the tree is bare except there might be a scrap or two of wrapping paper back in the corner. The toys are scattered about. The slippers are warming the feet and Dad's tie looks great with his new shirt. Leftovers still taste good and memories of another glorious family celebration are still fresh in our minds. I'm wondering if you've unwrapped every gift? Is there one that is drawing your attention? See it sparkling in the Christmas lights?

John 4:10 Jesus answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who is the One saying to you, Give Me to drink, you would have asked Him, and He would give you living water.

In a little manger lay a baby Who is the Light of the world, the Gift from God one night 2,000 years ago. We Christians remember that day, honor our LORD, and give gifts to our loved ones to commemorate the Gift of Life God chose to bestow on all who believe Him. The question is, can the world discern the meaning from the Christians? Have we lost the meaning for the most part to the point that Christmas is just tinsel and lights? True believers haven’t lost it. We carry that gift with us all year long; and it is visible to others who have the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is something that shines within us, giving light to this dark world. What we need to remember is that darkness cannot overcome light. The darkest cavern will be lit by the smallest candle which is something we tend to forget in the fast lane.

Arise and shine for thy Light has come, and the glory of YHWH has risen on you. Isaiah 60:1

That is just one of the prophecies that Jesus would be born. I so much love this verse because It says so much in such few words.

Arise: that Hebrew word is קוּםqûm koom which is a primitive root and has a great number of words that it means in various applications literally, causatively, intensively, and figuratively. It means to rise up, stand up, rouse up, stir up, uphold, enjoin, make good, abide, be clearer, confirm, decree.

Let’s take that word decree. Isn’t it interesting that Caesar sent out a decree for census at the precise time that Mary was due to bear her baby? Isn’t it interesting that just more than 70 years after Isaiah wrote this down, Artaxerxes (a title for the king of Persia) issued a decree for Jerusalem to be rebuilt and sent Nehemiah to do the job. Neither Caesar nor Artaxerxes Darius knew they were setting into motion events which had been prophesied centuries before in the case of Darius and a century before in the case of Caesar. God is definitely in control.

Shine: that Hebrew words is אור 'ôr ore A primitive root; to be or to make luminous (literally and metaphorically) break of day, glorious, kindle, (be, en-, give, show) light (-en, -ened), set on fire, shine.

This can be compared to Luke 1:78-79, the Dayspring, Dawn, as bright as the sun rising in the east to give light to those who walk in darkness. The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:2 and Matthew 4:16. Immanuel is the Light and it is He who shines within us.

So how do we Christians shine? It is not us that is doing the work here. God has lit us from the inside out, and it is God who speaks to Himself in other Christians. It’s that instant affinity you feel for someone you’ve just met, but there is a kinship you feel, a kindred Spirit that is joyous to commune with kindred Spirit and we are allowed to participate in it. That is believer to believer.

What about shining toward those who do not know Jesus, and who do not have the indwelling Spirit? What plan has God devised for us to shine toward them?

We see all the building blocks for that plan in Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 meekness, self-control. Against such things there is not a law. 24 But the ones belonging to Christ crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

When we display the fruit of the Spirit then we have unwrapped the Gift for all to see. We are acting contrary to the flesh and the world. Those who are aching, hurting, spiritually sick, hungering and thirsting will instantly recognize in us what they want. God has already prepared their hearts, all we have to do is be prepared to share what He has so abundantly given. God does all the work through His willing vessels be they of the most costly alabaster or the most durable ironstone.

Unwrap the Gift and share the fruit of the Spirit with everyone you know for God is hard at work within the hearts of men. We never know what kind word or display of self-control, or joyous expression will draw one toward the Gift and to life eternal with the most glorious King. Expect miracles. The fields are white with harvest and the time for harvesting is growing short.

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Biography Information:

Gina Burgess has taught Sunday School and Discipleship Training for almost three decades. (Don't tell her that makes her old.) She earned her Master's in Communication in 2013.

She is the author of several books including: When Christians Hurt Christians, The Crowns of the Believers and others available in online bookstores. She authors several columns, using her God-given talent to shine a light in a dark world. You can browse her blog at Refreshment In Refuge.

If you'd like to take a look at some Christian fiction and Christian non-fiction book reviews check out Gina's book reviews at Upon

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