Remember the Gift

Most of us can recall a gift that means more to us than its price. It may be the last thing someone gave us, the first gift exchanged by newlyweds, or a keepsake from childhood. As Christians, there is one gift we should never forget: God's own Son, given on the cross. Paul says, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15). We cannot fully grasp what Jesus endured at Calvary. He had never known suffering, yet He took on human flesh and bore the pain and anguish of the cross for us.

What makes this gift remarkable is its timing. God did not wait until we deserved it. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Most human giving expects something in return, but God gave when we were His enemies, in open rebellion against Him. However deeply you love your spouse, children, parents, or friends, God loved you more. We could never earn or pay for this salvation. We can only receive it by grace. And a gift like that changes how we treat others: "Forgive each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32). Remember the gift.