Timothy was the young pastor of a young church in Ephesus planted by Paul. Many spiritual gifts are given and received by the laying on of hands. Today we see this operating among Christians. But in Old Testament times the priests laid hands on the sacrifices before they were slaughtered.
Water is the most essential element for life. It symbolises the essential Holy Spirit for spiritual survival. Those who believe and get to Heaven before the last days of earth as we know it, will be urging others to take the free gift of eternal life symbolised by this water.
The virgin Mary was the first to receive the gift of Jesus. What a courageous young woman she was. She was one among many who had been awaiting the Messiah for generations. He had been promised centuries earlier through the prophets, but also mentioned at the beginning of the Bible.
This is the month when much of the world celebrates Christmas and the greatest gift ever given to mankind. So it seems like a good idea to look at gifts and the whole concept of giving in a Biblical sense. Jesus gave Himself for every person who has ever lived.
In the book of Revelation we have the last reference to creation. The angel holding the small scroll which John was to eat, came with a rainbow above his head which was a reminder of the first creation being destroyed and God resetting things with the family of Noah.
God designed all things well, it is the enemy, the devil who is also in the world and who has distorted the good plans of God. Sadly humanity has listened and been affected too much by the voice of satan, the destructor. But he will not have the last word.
At the beginning of Revelation 4 John is invited to go up to Heaven and see what is prepared for the future! He describes some amazing scenes before the chapter ends with the verse for today. But that was only the beginning of the things John saw on his Heavenly visit.
Much more of the Bible than we first realize is asking us to recognise God as Creator. The enemy has been quite successful in spreading the lie that everything evolved naturally and persuading even many church goers who consider themselves Christians, that the seven day creation was impossible.
God really did create so much more than we have yet experienced. And in Isaiah 40 we see something of His defence and praise of Himself, as well as His continued tirade against idol worship. In the ten commandments God was very specific about NOT making images to worship.
To bless another person means to approve of them, to wish them good things, and to pray that they achieve the plans of God for their life. As God sent Adam and Eve out to care for His garden, He was wanting them to succeed, be happy, and reproduce.
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