The Intangible Gift From God

Ephesians 2:8 – For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. (NKJV)

My Christmas gifts while growing up were small, but very meaningful. In a family of nine children, there were no elaborate gifts. Back then, we were not into the age of technology, so our parents did not have that challenge to cope with. If I received the doll of my heart's desire and a colouring book, I was very thankful that my wishes had been fulfilled. Often, these gifts were not wrapped, but tucked into a ribbed brown stocking. Yet in addition to these simple gifts, I received in my Sunday school classes the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and this gift has been my resource on which to draw through much adversity.

Many, many years ago, we all received the most humble yet most valuable gift that we could ever receive in life. That is the gift of Jesus Christ. God sent this gift to the world to save the world. This most precious gift of all time arrived without wrappings, but was then wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a lowly manger. How magnificent was the gift, compared to the wrappings!

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

Prayer: Dear Father, in the midst of this world we know today, where everything seems to focus on the monetary value, bring us back to the humble beginnings when we had a gentler time and more consideration for one another. May parents not succumb to simply providing the latest technological toy that their offspring want, but rather teach them about the most intangible gift of all: Your dear Son lying in the manger stall, sent to give us eternal life. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.