What are you doing with the gift?

So welcome to the day after Christmas, the day when gifts that we received are judged.  The day where we determine the answer to the question --- what are you doing with the gift?

-      What are you doing with the gift?  When you politely said “I liked the gift” on Christmas  morning only to but put it away Christmas evening never to be seen again?

-      What are you doing with the gift?  When I really liked the gift but can’t see how I can ever use another red tie to go with the 57 other red ties that are already in my collection. 

-      Or What are you doing with the gift?  When I am really happy with the gift card that I was given but have no idea when I will have the time to get to that fancy store on the other side of town?   

So the question of the day after Christmas is simply this: “What are you going to do with the gift?”

The writer of Hebrews understood that the salvation available to us through Jesus is a gift.   Hebrews 2:3 tells us “how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.”

So again the question is what are you going to do with the gift?

-      What are we going to do with the gift that can give us a peace that surpasses all understanding?

-      What are we going to do with the gift that will make me love my enemy and make love my friend? 

-      And what are going to do with the gift that will give us the assurance of everlasting life?

The answer is to receive the gift of salvation we must use the gift of salvation. 

-      We must use the gift of salvation by taking everything to the Lord in prayer

-      We must use the gift of salvation to study ourselves to be approved.  Focused on  doing our best work for the Lord.  

-      We must use the gift of salvation to share the Word of the Lord with every one as we live out the command of the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. 

So I hope on this day after Christmas as we take stock of the gifts that were under the tree we also take stock of the teachings from Hebrews 2:3 and not ignore this great gift of salvation.