God gives unexpected gifts. This is the very heart of God. One of my friends, as an adult, continued to drift away from the Lord. From an outsider looking in, he appeared impossible to reach. Then one day, God revealed Himself supernaturally and drew him to faith. It was an unexpected gift that changed his life and his family.
Faith is a Gift from God
The greatest gift we will ever receive is faith. Ephesians 2:8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. [1] As we reflect on this verse, Paul clarifies that faith can’t be earned, nor is it a reward for anything we can do. Faith is simply a gift from the Lord because He loves us so much.
Jacob Received an Unexpected Gift
Jacob’s sons had sold his favorite son into slavery at age seventeen and deceived their father about what happened to him. Jacob’s grief was inconsolable, such that he grieved for years. Jacob didn’t think he would ever see his son again. After many years, Jacob’s brothers returned with fantastic news from their grain-buying trip to Egypt.
Genesis 45:26 “Joseph is still alive!” they told him. “And he is governor of all the land of Egypt!” Jacob was stunned at the news—he couldn’t believe it. 27 But when they repeated to Jacob everything Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons Joseph had sent to carry him, their father’s spirits revived. 28 Then Jacob exclaimed, “It must be true! My son Joseph is alive! I must go and see him before I die.” [2] Can you imagine the joy that filled Jacob’s heart when he received the unexpected gift that his son was alive?
The Resurrection was an Unexpected Gift
The women walked to the tomb of Jesus, sad and downcast, as they reflected on the death of Jesus. Then they received an unexpected gift when an angel in the tomb told them Jesus was alive and had risen from the dead. Matthew 28:8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. [3] Think how this unexpected gift changed their lives and how Jesus’ resurrection has changed your life.
To learn how God gives unexpected gifts, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/joseph-reveals-his-identity
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.