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For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8 NIV)
Shopping for Christmas gifts can be stressful. Without breaking your budget, or extending your credit card limit, you’ve got to find the perfect gift for your mother-in-law, your picky sister, your boss who already has everything, and anybody who drops by your house unannounced. And if they don’t absolutely love their gift, you may feel all the time spent hunting for an autographed, out-of-print, first-edition, gold-trimmed book by their favorite author was a complete waste of energy.If you’re worried about how people will enjoy your gift, imagine how God must feel when people scoff at His gift. Through His grace and mercy, God has offered us the gift of eternal life. And not just that. He’s also signed the adoption papers to make us His children. It’s a gift of love, life, and family unlike any other.
If you’re not familiar with this gift, I’m sure you’re wondering what it cost. For you, nothing. But for God, everything. He had to punish His own son, Jesus, with death. Jesus didn’t have to accept the punishment, but He did because of His great love for us. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he wrote, “He [Jesus] is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins” (Ephesians 1:7 NLT).
So, while you’re hunting for bargains at your favorite retailer or stuck waiting in the checkout line, take a moment to think about the gift that God has given us. It might make that shopping experience a bit more bearable.
Shopping for Christmas gifts can be stressful. Without breaking your budget, or extending your credit card limit, you’ve got to find the perfect gift for your mother-in-law, your picky sister, your boss who already has everything, and anybody who drops by your house unannounced. And if they don’t absolutely love their gift, you may feel all the time spent hunting for an autographed, out-of-print, first-edition, gold-trimmed book by their favorite author was a complete waste of energy.If you’re worried about how people will enjoy your gift, imagine how God must feel when people scoff at His gift. Through His grace and mercy, God has offered us the gift of eternal life. And not just that. He’s also signed the adoption papers to make us His children. It’s a gift of love, life, and family unlike any other.
If you’re not familiar with this gift, I’m sure you’re wondering what it cost. For you, nothing. But for God, everything. He had to punish His own son, Jesus, with death. Jesus didn’t have to accept the punishment, but He did because of His great love for us. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he wrote, “He [Jesus] is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins” (Ephesians 1:7 NLT).
So, while you’re hunting for bargains at your favorite retailer or stuck waiting in the checkout line, take a moment to think about the gift that God has given us. It might make that shopping experience a bit more bearable.