If you have been receiving gifts for any period of time whether it is was from Christmas, your birthday, or anniversary, you know that there are some common facts about the gifts you received. First of all, for some, the value placed on the gift received is based on desire and need. For others the value of the gift received is placed on who gave it and why they gave it. Usually in this instance the monetary value of the gift does not matter. But for some the monetary value does matter, the more costly the gift the more importance is placed on it. And sometimes this view about the cost of a gift takes on another significance. The person receiving the costly gift will think that they are greatly valued by person the one who gave the gift because of the amount of money that was spent for the gift.
Another set of facts about receiving gifts are, over a period of time you will place lesser value over certain gifts than others, even to the point you will forget on what occasion you received it and who gave it. Some gifts after a short period of time will end up in a yard sale or stowed away in the back of a closet and forgotten about. But on the other hand, some gifts that we have received over the years will increase in their value, not necessarily monetary value but sentimental value. For some with the passing of time the importance of a certain gift is not so much the gift itself but the memory and importance of the person who gave that particular gift.
As a Christian what is the value you are placing on the Greatest Gift you ever received, Jesus? How much time are you spending time you’re your gift? Are you continually learning new things about the eternal value of the greatest Gift anyone can receive? Are we taking full advantage of the Gifts benefits, not only for us but for everyone we know? Does the Gift of your salvation and your relationship with Jesus have lesser or greater value that when you first received it? Do you fully realize what was given for you or the price that was paid so you could receive this free Gift?
We usually do not associate Paul’s letter to the Romans as something that relates to Christmas or the birth of Christ. However, if we have received God’s greatest gift to the world, Christ Jesus, we will easily understand the association. Below is an excerpt of Romans 5:12, 15-19 in which the word “gift” appears five times. As you read this portion of Paul’s letter, what new things or characteristics did you learn about the free gift that God gave us?
12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.
New Living Translation
As we mature in our loving relationship with Jesus, one of the many aspects and the many benefits of God’s Greatest Gift, Jesus is, that He will never become useless or forgotten about as other some gifts we receive. Also, another unique characteristic of God’s gift to us is, as our growing experiential knowledge of Jesus’ love for us increases so does our love for Him. Our relationship is not only a knowledge of who Jesus is but also an expression of who Jesus is in our lives to others.
This Christmas let us never forget to give and or tell others about God’s Greatest Gift we have received Jesus.
Pastor John
Ephesians 3:17-19
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
