"The Gift or the Giver"

The post showed a son who purchased a truck for his  father as a surprise.  The son managed to get his dad to follow him outside and even got him to agree to be blindfolded.  We had the advantage of seeing the truck in distance as they walked up to it.   The whole time the father was talking suspiciously, but was still trusting his son's guidance.   As they approached the truck, the son took the blindfolds off of his father...

THE GIFT

Now, sometimes we see people get a surprise gift and they leave everybody to run to see exactly what the gift is.  Excitement has them touching and testing the gift.  If it is a vehicle, they may get inside and see how they look in the mirrors, feel the seats and look for keys so they can take a test drive. All of these things can be normal unless you have another focus, much like this father did. 

When the blindfold was removed, the dad stood trying to take in what he was looking at.  His confusion soon turned to disbelief, which turned to excitement.  Without hesitation, he grabbed hold of his son and hugged him.   The majority of the scene showed the father jumping into his son's arms, and holding onto him.  He  continued to  hug him and begin to cry.  He paid very little attention to the gift because he was in the arms of the giver.

THE GIFT OR THE GIVER

How do you respond when God answers your prayers?  When there is a need in your life and God answers it, what do you do?   You finally close on that house, do you stay there are make your way to His house?  That car that you have been needing that you get, does it show up at His house only on occasion or often?  When healing comes, do we forget to go back to God like the 9 lepers, or do we take time to tell Him thank you for real?   We have been so blessed, God has been so faithful, that we should really be jumping into His arms.. 

Know that any gift we get in this life will never compare to the Giver.  Even when things  are challenging and life seems difficult, having the Giver of all gifts, is the greatest gift ever.   Next time God answers your prayers, or gives you what you need, don't run off with the gift... run to The Giver!

"One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked Him--and he was a Samaritan. "

Luke 17:15-16