DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR THURSDAY DECEMBER 3:
WORD OF WISDOM
Faith is trusting in God when life doesn't make sense.
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DAILY DEVOTION
The Gifts of Christmas
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift
of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity
captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Ephesians 4:7-8
After unwrapping all of her presents, a little girl was asked, "Did you get
everything you wanted for Christmas?" She thought for a moment and said,
"No. But then, it's not my birthday." There is a lot attention paid, and
rightly so, to the over-commercialization of Christmas. This is not a season
for seeing how much stuff we can pile under the tree and how deeply in debt
we can go in order to make sure everybody in the family gets everything they
want.
This is a season that celebrates the good gifts that we have received from
God. Of course the gift of Jesus is the "unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians
9:15)-a gift so precious there are no words that can adequately describe it.
Yet that is far from the only gift that we received because of Christ's
coming. As David put it, God "daily loadeth us with benefits" (Psalm 68:19).
The Hebrew word used here signifies a load that is almost too heavy to
carry-that's a lot of benefits!
It is a measure of how much God loves us that He not only gave us His Son
but so much more along with Him. We should never forget all that He has
graciously bestowed upon us. The gift giving season of Christmas is a time
to share our expressions of love with others, but it is also a time when we
should be grateful for all that we have received. If you maintain that focus
this Christmas, you will find that you are having a truly merry holiday no
matter what is under the tree.
All of the blessings we enjoy as children of God can be traced to the gift
of God's Son on the first Christmas.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
1 Corinthians 15-16 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Risen Christ, Faith's Reality
15 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you,
which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are
saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you-unless you
believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was
buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5
and that He was seen by [a]Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was
seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain
to the present, but some have [b]fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by
James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also,
as by one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an
apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God
I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more
abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
The Risen Christ, Our Hope
12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do
some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if
there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if
Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also
empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have
testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up-if in
fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is
not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are
still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have [c]fallen asleep in Christ
have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all
men the most pitiable.
The Last Enemy Destroyed
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of
those who have [d]fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also
came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in
Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the
firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. 24 Then comes
the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end
to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has
put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is
death. 27 For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all
things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under
Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the
Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that
God may be all in all.
Effects of Denying the Resurrection
29 Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead
do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? 30 And why do
we stand in [e]jeopardy every hour? 31 I affirm, by the boasting in you
which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If, in the manner of
men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If
the dead do not rise, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"
33 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." 34 Awake to
righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I
speak this to your shame.
A Glorious Body
35 But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do
they come?" 36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies.
37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere
grain-perhaps wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He
pleases, and to each seed its own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind [f]of flesh of
men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.
40 There are also [g]celestial bodies and [h]terrestrial bodies; but the
glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another
glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption,
it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in
glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a
natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and
there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, "The first man Adam
became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the
spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made[i] of dust; the second
Man is [j]the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the [k]man of dust, so also are
those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those
who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust,
we[l] shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.
Our Final Victory
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom
of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a
[m]mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed- 52 in a
moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet
will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal
must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on
incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought
to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
55 "O[n] Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But
thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding
in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Collection for the Saints
16 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to
the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week
let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that
there be no collections when I come. 3 And when I come, whomever you approve
by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. 4 But if it is
fitting that I go also, they will go with me.
Personal Plans
5 Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing
through Macedonia). 6 And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the
winter with you, that you may send me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I
do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you,
if the Lord permits.
8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 For a great and effective
door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
10 And if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he
does the work of the Lord, as I also do. 11 Therefore let no one despise
him. But send him on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I am
waiting for him with the brethren.
12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you
with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however,
he will come when he has a convenient time.
Final Exhortations
13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Let all that you
do be done with love.
15 I urge you, brethren-you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the
firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry
of the saints- 16 that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works
and labors with us.
17 I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for
what was lacking on your part they supplied. 18 For they refreshed my spirit
and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men.
Greetings and a Solemn Farewell
19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily
in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. 20 All the brethren
greet you.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 The salutation with my own hand-Paul's.
22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be [o]accursed.
O[p] Lord, come!
23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24 My love be with you
all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
