The gift of the Holy Spirit is the best gift we can receive.

Luke 11:9-13

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Christmas is always a busy and a stressful time of year. As Christians, it is a time when we can reflect on God’s love for us in sending his son Jesus into the world. But because of the traditions that our society has adapted, the idea of giving gifts is right at the heart of what most people think Christmas is all about. And that can bring a lot of stress! What should I buy for my brother-in-law when he buys everything he needs as soon as he wants it? Where can I go to find my Dad’s favourite chocolate aniseed rings? Should I still get my Mum a gift when she thinks that giving and receiving presents is just for kids?

Giving gifts is hard work; the shopping trip that leads up to Christmas is always something that I dread, although there are some who love that challenge! But no matter how we feel about it, we usually manage to do okay on the gift-giving front. We find gifts that our friends and family will get some sort of enjoyment out of, even if we haven’t managed to find something that they desperately need. In general, we are pretty good gift-givers.

In this passage in Luke, though, Jesus shows that any gift-giving ability that we have pales into insignificance compared with the incredible gift that our Father God lavishes upon us:

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Yes, Jesus says, even though we have sinful and evil hearts, we are still okay at giving gifts. He is setting a low bar for us, though – we are only good at it in that we generally don’t give people a dangerous gift instead of something they will enjoy! But our mediocre gift-giving ability is far, far below the lavish kindness of our Father in heaven, who delights in giving his own Holy Spirit to those who ask him. This gift of the Holy Spirit is not like a Christmas gift that we just enjoy for a short time and then cast aside with the wrapping paper. The Holy Spirit works in us to transform our sinful selves to be more and more like Jesus – this is the process of sanctification – and the Spirit also strengthens us to put off sin and to serve God faithfully. As Paul writes in Galatians 5, the Holy Spirit produces fruit in us; fruit of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). As we continue to nurture these fruits within ourselves, the Holy Spirit grows and transforms us into the likeness of our Lord Jesus.

Head: What is the greatest earthly gift you’ve been given? How does it compare with the gift of the Holy Spirit that leads to eternal life?

Heart: Do you ever neglect the role of the Holy Spirit in your life? Pray that God will help you to know the work of his Spirit, and see the way that his Spirit is working in you.

Hands: How am I demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit in my life? How can I seek to use these fruits to serve others and point them to Jesus?

Prayer: Dear God, thank you that you care so deeply for us that you adopt us as your children and invite us to call you Father. Thank you that you are the perfect gift-giver; that you have given us your own Spirit to work in us and change us. Please help us to see the work of your life-giving Spirit in our lives, and continue to strengthen and transform us by your Spirit, that we might be faithful servants of you, to your praise and glory. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

A song to listen to: Holy Spirit

Nick Woodward – Living Church Creek Road