Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
(2 Corinthians 9:15, NET)
It was my freshman year of college, and I was looking forward to being home for Christmas. All semester long my roommate snapped pictures with her professional camera. My camera was tiny, and I dreamed of taking better pictures. So, having no idea of the tremendous cost, I asked my parents for a 35mm camera for Christmas.
Under the tree that morning was a 35mm camera, but not just any camera. My dad gave me his camera. I was thrilled. At the time I didn’t realize my father’s personal cost of giving up his own camera. With three kids in college, finances were tight. Looking back, I see the value in his gift.
Two thousand years ago, another Gift was given by a Father who gave up His own priceless treasure—His Son, Jesus. On that silent, star-filled night, angels sang to smelly shepherds, “a Savior is born.” Immediately, the shepherds left their flocks, found the Christ child, and worshiped Him. But most of the world slept on.
Why would God give us His Only Son knowing we might not value His Gift? Because He loves us (John 3:16)! God knew there was nothing we could do or nothing within ourselves that would meet His standard of perfection (Ephesians 2:8–9). But Jesus could and did! We all fall short and our fate would be death except for God’s gracious Gift— “eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 3:23–24; 6:23). When we accept this Gift, we are assured of fellowship forever with our heavenly Father.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above…” (James 1:17, ASV). The gifts we give and receive each Christmas remind us of The Greatest Gift—our eternal salvation we have because of Jesus Christ—whose birth we celebrate. Like the camera I received for Christmas, we can appreciate God’s gift to a certain extent now. But one day, when we see our Lord face to face, we will fully know the value of this indescribable Gift!