Christians discover their gifts as they travel down the road of life. One such gift is helping others. But its purpose isn’t only to enrich people – the poor and well-to-do alike, but to enlighten them. To accomplish these blessings it’s necessary to have an active spiritual lifestyle. A French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher, Voltaire (1694 – 1778) wrote, “God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.” Here’s a focus on four wonderful gifts e.g., nature, knowledge, peace, and the Holy Spirit.

Nature

A Liberal politician, philanthropist and scientist John Lubbock (1834 – 1913) observed, “Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountains and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.” With ecologically consciousness minds, there’s talk and action about caring for nature as stewards of God’s creation. Each day we should show love for the earth’s trees, rivers, lakes, mountains and valleys. Experience the surge in new life of birds, fishes, and  wildlife in our parks, forests, and jungles. Unlike information in books, Lubbock saw nature as teaching many things.  It gives us joy, comfort, food, clothing, and medicine.

Knowledge

A Classical Greek philosopher Socrates (470/469 B.C. – 399 B.C.) proposed, “To know, is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge.” Socrates looked at our senses which are deceptive in a changing world. Even in science when empirical studies are done, there are at times observational errors. People experience the throes of life by hardships, difficulties, and illnesses which teach them lessons. As we endeavor to decipher life’s questions, our thought-processes are often polluted by our undeveloped senses. With years of devoted study we’re left wondering what has happened to the knowledge we once thought true. With these changes we might conclude like the preeminent English poet and playwright William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616), that “Ignorance is the curse of God; knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven.” True knowledge is based on the truth found in the Holy Spirit.

Peace

An Indian politician and attorney, Mahatma Gandhi (1869 – 1948) remarked, “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.” That’s why forgiving our fellowmen and women for wrongs done is important. In tasting of life’s possibilities and being open channels of peace we must continue our missionary work. It’ll be good to practice purity and view it as a goal to perpetuate. As the German born physicist, Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955) noted, “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” To find common ground, problems arising between people have to be candidly discussed.

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is a free gift from God. He’s the greatest any believer can have. Undoubtedly, he’s a life-giving force that’s the light of life. Through him a Christian enjoys a supreme quality of life – one that’s illuminated, new, and full of everlasting love. His indwelling is sustained by a lifestyle of caring and compassion toward others. By living pious lives, believers share jointly in the abiding truth of the spirit. Senior pastor of the First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, Charles Stanley (b. 1932) wrote, “Earthly wisdom is doing what comes naturally. Godly wisdom is doing what the Holy Spirit compels us to do.”