The Most Valuable Gift Ever

This is Christmas season once again. Everyone expects gifts from people whom they have served and showed extra care and attention. Somehow a gift is a measure of the appreciation or love and concern of the beneficiaries of faithful service with extraordinary care and attention.

What is the most valuable gift ever? It is God’s gift of His only begotten Son to a sinful world. How can one receive this inestimable gift of God to man which the Apostle Paul described as “His unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15 KJV)? Very simple but difficult for the unbelieving and those with philosophical mind to understand. When we say philosophical mind, we mean a person who requires correct reasoning or logic for all things in order to believe just like Christ’s disciple named Thomas, who said: “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25 KJV). To a logical or philosophical mind, evidence is needed. Stated otherwise, without any evidence which he can see or touch, he will not believe. However, reading further the scriptures, Thomas changed his stance in this wise:

²⁶ And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

²⁷ Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

²⁸ And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

²⁹ Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (“vs. 26 up to 29” KJV)

This is the trouble with intellectual and educated people - - they are like Thomas. These are the people who require “reason” or concrete evidence for them to believe. This is not so with spiritual matters. This is illustrated in the following episode:

18 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

² And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

³ And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

⁵ And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

(Matt. 18:1-5 KJV)

Notice the phrase “little children” and the word “humble”. Little children would not know how to reason, and they do not care to know the reason for anything. They will believe and do what we the older ones, tell them without requiring any reason or evidence. And these little children are humble. Meaning, they don’t have any pride, or what we might say, “I know better than you” attitude. Going back to the question, how can one receive the gift? The scriptures answer it this way:”

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Eph. 2:8-9 KJV).

Thus, Jesus Christ received by us in our heart by His grace through faith in him, is the greatest gift. And God the Father gave us this gift for this reason: “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 KJV). Have we received God’s gift? Through faith in Him we can have complete forgiveness of sins and life that never ends.

If we have received Jesus Christ in our hearts, by faith in Him as our Lord and only Savior, then even if we don’t receive any material gift from someone this Christmas season, we shall have a Merry Christmas!

Jesus Christ is the greatest gift that any man can receive by faith in Him.