What an Awesome Gift!

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23, NIV)

Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas? Maybe, if you’re like me, your list wasn’t very long, or maybe had nothing on it at all. Even as we become older, we might find our wants are few at this time of year. There is not anything or very much that can be wrapped and placed under the tree that calls to us. Other desires take the place of material possessions or tangible gifts. Being healed might top our list, experiencing peace on earth on in earthly relationships might be what we most want, things that cannot be put in a box or wrapped or that only God can give.     

At Christmas God gave us a gift that cannot be wrapped in fancy paper or placed under the tree. He sent the perfect gift to fit exactly what we needed; the only gift that truly does fit every size! He gifted us with salvation and brought it through His only Son, Jesus.  

When we understand how deep, impactful, and serious sin is, what it caused and what it brought to earth and upon the human condition, then we understand the magnitude of the gift of salvation. As Paul wrote the cost of sin is death but God did something amazing and miraculous for us when he sent his Son. Because Jesus brought and bought our salvation we can rejoice or take pleasure in it more than any other gift we’ll ever receive in life.

Eventually, every earthly or temporal gift will lose its luster, they will fade and dim, they will be replaced by other gifts, thrown away, and sometimes we will even forget who gave them to us, but the gift of salvation never grows old, it never fades, it can never be diminished by any other gift, and will never be returned for something better—because there is nothing better. Let’s Pray,     

There is nothing more to say, God, except thank you for the gift of Jesus. Thank you for the precious gift of salvation that came through your Only Son, our Savior. Amen

Reflective Questions for Soul-Tending:

Can you rejoice over the gift of salvation that came through Jesus more than you rejoice over earthly or temporal gifts?

How will you incorporate today’s message into your plan of soul-care?