964) Teachers get showered with gifts at Christmas time, teacher appreciation day and sometimes the last day of school. My students come to me, often with rosy cheeks, and hold out a gift while holding their breath. Though I don’t always open them right then, depending on when it is given and what the schedule is, I always thank them. There are times, though, that my students leave their gifts on my desk and there is no tag or indication of who brought it. I often hunt, sometimes frantically, to find out whose name should be on the tag. I don’t want the giver to go without thanks.

In Acts 14:1-20, we see some things that are given to Paul and Barnabas who attach their names differently. In verses 1-7, when Paul and Barnabas are spreading the news of the gift of salvation, whose tag reads from Jesus, some people reject the gift and give something else in return. They stir people up and poisoned peoples’ minds concerning Paul’s and Barnabas’ message. The names they have on their gift are troublemaker, agitator, instigator and more.

Later in the chapter, we see yet another gift. This includes kindness, rain, food and joy, and the name on the tag is God.

When someone offers you something, don’t always assume that it’s something you really want or need. The best thing to do is check the tag.