by Tim Hall

Jack can't wait to give his wife her gift on Christmas morning. Finally the moment arrives, and he excitedly hands her the beautifully wrapped box. Teresa's eyes lose their sparkle, however, when she sees the gift: boxes of ammunition that Jack will be able to use on his next hunting trip.

It doesn't take a trained marriage counselor to know that gifts like that don't fuel the fires of romance. If you really want to make a positive impression, give gifts that will benefit the recipient, even if they do nothing for the giver. Isn't that what gift-giving is supposed to be about?

Paul wrote to the church at Corinth about gifts. These gifts were miraculous in nature, unlike abilities seen before or since the first century. The most popular gift was the ability to speak languages that a person had never studied. It was designed to be more than showy. To take the gospel into all the world -- a world of many languages -- would require such an ability. God didn't bestow this gift just to make the speaker feel powerful, but that seems to have been the attitude of some Christians in Corinth.

"He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself," Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:4 (NKJV), "but he who prophesies edifies the church." Don't just think about yourself, Paul was saying. Be focused on how you can benefit others around you.

That's really the focus of our Christian faith, isn't it? It's not about me and my will, but the needs of others around me. Serving others was Jesus' theme in his ministry, and it ought to be that way with Christians.

As mentioned earlier, miraculous gifts have ceased (see 1 Corinthians 13:8-10). Is there a message in all of this for contemporary Christians?

In the heart of Paul's discussion of miraculous gifts, he presented the greatest gift of all: love. The thirteenth chapter is devoted to the potential of love to edify (build up) one another. When people are motivated by true love, they look out for the needs of others. They seek opportunities to do good for one another. They think less of themselves and more of their neighbors. They imitate the example of Jesus.

Love remains on earth. Christians may still exercise this gift if they choose. And those who use this gift will find that its effects are far more powerful than an ability to speak a foreign language without study.

"But earnestly desire the best gifts," Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:31. The gifts to which he then pointed -- faith, hope and love -- are still within our reach.

by Don Ruhl

Read Jeremiah 22 and 23

God spoke to a son of Josiah, who was a righteous king of Judah, but the son was wicked. God reminds the son why the father did well, saying,

He judged the cause of the poor and needy; Then it was well. Was not this knowing Me? says the LORD. (Jer. 22:16, NKJV).

What does it mean to know God? The passage above gives part of the answer. It is defending those who need defending. How does this mean that we know God? Think of it this way. Why are you and your friend, friends? You think the same way. You approach issues with the same principles. You treat other people in the same way. You like the same things and you dislike the same things. Therefore, you are drawn together and a bond is formed. So, it is with God. He judges the cause of the poor and needy. If you do the same, that catches His attention and He forms a bond with you. Find out how Jesus treated people and then do the same.

by Don Ruhl

Read Titus Chapter 1

One of the things that attracted me to the Churches of Christ is that they say we should speak as the Bible speaks. I thought to myself, How could you go wrong with that? I encourage you to try this with everything. For example, when you write to a fellow Christian, speak as Paul does to Titus,

4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. (Tit. 1:4, NKJV).

Just try it and see how it affects people.

by Don Ruhl

Read Second Timothy Chapter 4

Paul wrote to Timothy,

16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them (2 Tim. 4:16, NKJV).

If someone speaks the word of God, he will surely be opposed. Do not let him stand alone in the opposition. Back him up. He will appreciate it. You will know that you have done the right thing. Most of all, God will honor you for it.

by Don Ruhl

Read Jeremiah 20 and 21

When we were young, we rejoiced at our birthdays. When we are old, rejoicing over birthdays fads. Jeremiah had another reason for not rejoicing on his birthday; in fact, he cursed the day he was born.

Cursed be the day in which I was born! Let the day not be blessed in which my mother bore me! (Jer. 20:14, NKJV).

Since he started telling others what the Lord says, the people started persecuting the prophet. The persecution became so severe that he even wished that he had never been born.

Is it a blessing to be a child of God and to announce to others what the Lord says? Oh, yes, it is the greatest blessing ever. Does it bring severe problems? Yes, it does. Look at Jesus Christ.

Therefore, let us be willing to accept both good and adversity from the Lord.