“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” — 2 Corinthians 9:15
The Best Gift
In December, professional athletes and coaches join others in the biggest gift exchanges of the year. Gift giving is happening all over the place. During normal years, before the virus invaded our communities, office parties are planned. Malls and department stores are busy. Online shopping keeps truck drivers and mail carriers working around the clock. Big Santa, secret Santas and parents prepare in a big way for the main event.
As we prepare for special times with family and friends, we are inspired by the Christmas story. God prepared for centuries for the special moment when Baby Jesus would be wrapped in swaddling clothes. About 700 years before Christ was born, a prophet spoke about an unusual gift from Heaven: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
A miracle happened in Bethlehem when Jesus was born. It was impossible for a virgin to have a child but God specializes in doing the impossible. It is a heartwarming, true story. God provided this special gift for people everywhere and for all times. Though sin made us a debtor to God, the Lord came to bring the gift of forgiveness. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Generally, we give our best gifts to people we love the most. It is amazing to think about how much God loves human beings through Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). As the Apostle Paul thought about these glorious truths, he rejoiced about this gift from above. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Ga.
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