There is a peculiar tradition, occurring on May 1st of going to the front porch of a friend’s house, leaving a nicely decorated basket with a variety of candies and popcorn, then ringing the doorbell and quickly exiting the porch sight unseen. The baskets are usually decorated with flowery designs to represent the coming of spring; to express the joy of new life.
I had a friend Joel, who lived right behind me and gave me a May Day basket one year. Actually, Joel was my best friend. We were the same age and in the same elementary class. Now, I know what you are wondering. How did I know Joel left me a May Day basket if he was supposed to run away after delivering it? Well, unfortunately, when Joel was running away from the porch, the basket ended up toppling over. There was candy and popcorn strewn all over the porch. Joel was so excited about delivering the basket that he didn’t carefully place the basket in a secure place. He was beside himself about the whole ordeal, just sobbing uncontrollably. His mother was there to console him, and they went directly home. Joel put in a lot of time and effort creating my gift basket. Even though it didn’t arrive to me intact, I was still moved by the fact he had selected me to receive his gift.
God also delivers gifts to his people. See Matthew 7: 7-11, 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
God blesses us with gifts that are not only tangible but also intangible. God gives us things that are material but also those gifts that are related to eternity, such as faith, hope and love. He promises us eternal rewards that will never fade away for those who follow Him here on this earth. To receive these gifts, you need to turn your life over to the One True God. God is a triune being: God the Father, Jesus, Son of God, and the Holy Spirit. These three are separate persons, yet they are one person. The awesome thing about God is that He is a mystery, and, if you are a follower of Jesus, you will get an eternity to know Him. He says, “I will not leave you.”
We follow Jesus by faith in this life and hope for the indescribable future with a Savior who gave up everything to save you and me. Why would Jesus do this? The answer is that He loved us enough to die for us even while we were yet sinners. There is no other gift that exceeds the gift of salvation. The gift that allows you and me to be in the presence of the One True God for eternity.
When God gives His gifts, He is straightforward with you. There is no hiding gifts or running away so you don’t know who the giver is. He says, “Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened.” This blog is about finding the presence of the One True God. God is open and available, He is accessible. So, I would ask you if you are having difficulty finding God, maybe you aren’t following Jesus. For Jesus says, “I am the Way, I am the Truth, and I am the Life.” I would start with Jesus because quite frankly, there is no other way. Seek the One True God by trusting in Jesus and obtain the greatest gift ever offered from eternity past to eternity future — the gift of new life.
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”
Discussions to make God known 