The Best Gift Ever

What is the best gift you’ve ever received? Would the value of that gift change if the giver of that gift had been someone different? For instance, if your grandfather gave you one million dollars, you’d probably appreciate it greatly. What if a terrorist gave you one million dollars, would that change how excited you were about it? The same could be said about nearly anything…including salvation.

The more we get to know who God is, and what He longs for, and what He loves, and what breaks His heart, the more we see the value of salvation. We need deliverance from our foolish choices to ignore His boundaries that were put in place for our protection. So, the fact that “salvation” is even necessary highlights the trustworthiness of God’s promise. He went to great lengths to give us the best gift ever given.

Paul said in Titus 2:11-15, “For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them.”

As you read about Christ’s arrival to this world, and all the attempts to destroy Him in some way, it’s easier to recognize God’s love for us. More than anything God wanted this precious gift to be given so that all those who will trust Him will be able to enjoy it. When you read the history of Israel’s origins and their journey to the Promised Land, you quickly realize how long this story was actually unfolding.

So, no wonder that when Jesus began to teach, He helped connect the dots for us. He said to the Apostles in Luke 24:44-45, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about Me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then, the Bible tells us that He “opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”

Everything about Him helped people see God through Him (if they had eyes to see, or ears to hear). He even told His closest followers during a bout with doubt in John 14:9-11, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don't know who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father! So why are you asking Me to show Him to you? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in Me does His work through Me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen Me do.”

Those same words ring true for us today: believe in the message of salvation because all the proof wrapped up in the message that has spanned over thousands of years. We, too, must embrace what Jesus did, taught, and asked of us—and recognize him as the door to salvation. What a wonderful gift!