God's Gift

I listen to Christian radio stations that are listener funded. Twice a year, these stations have a fundraiser to raise their operating budget. During this time, I've heard the radio announcer ask people to make their "best gift." Basically, he encourages listeners to give as much as they can to help out the radio station. Spiritually speaking, our Heavenly Father has already given us His "best gift"--Jesus Christ!

This Gift was not wrapped in fine linen or purple silk. It was not lying in a crib made of pure gold. It was not even born in a state-of-the-art hospital or a castle. Jesus Christ was born in a stable, a place for animals to dwell. The Infant was wrapped in swaddling cloth. He was lying in a manger. The Creator of all things came to earth in this humble way. His birth was celebrated with gifts from the wise men. We read in Matthew 2:11, “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”

Why did Jesus come? He came to be the propitiation for our sins and so that we could have eternal life. We read in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." We also read in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

We have been given grace through God's Gift. Ephesians 4:7 declares, “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ." Ephesians 2:8 reads, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

Some people spend a small fortune on gifts during the Christmas season. How much did God's Gift cost us? The answer is found in Romans 5:14-18, "Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." God's Gift is free to all who will accept Him! Revelation 22:17 says, "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." In speaking to the woman at the well in John 4:10,“Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and Who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water."

Sometimes we struggle to know what gift to buy for someone, but God is the Perfect Gift Giver! James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Matthew 7:11 declares, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?" Ephesians 4:8 reads, “Wherefore he saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”

When Jesus left the earth, He gave another gift. Peter received this Gift and spoke about it on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” God gave us the Holy Ghost to lead us and guide us. You too can receive the Holy Ghost if you follow the instructions given in Acts 2:38!

After realizing what God's Gift means for me, I can echo what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift."