The Indescribable Gift

If you were to reduce Christmas to its most basic level—down to one word—it would be GIFT. Interestingly, the definition of a gift is “something given voluntarily and without compensation.” When you give something to someone you love, you do so willingly. You aren’t obligated or forced. One of the joys of Christmastime is being able to give someone something you believe they will truly enjoy.

Two thousand years ago, the infinite God of heaven and earth offered His creation the greatest gift imaginable—His Son. “He’s yours! He has been Mine, but now I want to give Him to you. I want to do that so badly that I will release Him to you—freely.”

When you stop and really contemplate that, you realize how remarkable this gift truly is. In fact, when you try to put it into words, you can’t—there simply aren’t words. We understand giving gifts, but we do not understand giving away the most precious thing we possess. This gift was infinitely valuable, irreplaceable, and sacrificial.

In 2 Corinthians 9:15, the Apostle Paul is writing his second letter to the church at Corinth and addressing the subject of giving. As he reflects on the gift of salvation in Christ, he finds language insufficient. So, he coins a word that appears nowhere else in Scripture—no other verse, chapter, or book. It applies uniquely to the One whom God gave voluntarily and without compensation. Paul writes, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.”

The gift of Jesus Christ is what we celebrate—not only at Christmas, but every day of our lives. This gift is intimate, personal, costly, and world-changing.

Have you received the gift?

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Brian Richard