2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV – “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”
With Thanksgiving recently passed, Christmas is upon us, which means gift-giving. What is the most extravagant gift on your list? Whatever it is, there is one of even greater extravagance. You won’t find this present listed in a catalog. It can’t be bought or wrapped, isn’t offered for one day only, or to a select few. The gospel writer described it like this, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)
God came bringing gifts of light and love and mercy and grace through His only Son, Jesus Christ. The babe born in Bethlehem bore God’s present to all mankind, the gift of salvation.
We often go to great expense to select the perfect gift for people we love, hoping they’ll love it too. But even the richest among us have finite resources. Not so with God. Yet He didn’t reach into His infinite resources when He gave something so incalculably precious that the angelic host sang out. God gave Himself.
What would compel such an exquisite offering? There is only one reason—extravagant, costly love. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
As recipients of such lavish love, may we make the apostle Paul’s words our thankful response every day of every season. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
