Tuesday: The Gift of God
Read: John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8
SOAP: Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
Devotion:
Each summer we spend a few weeks going through our home to collect unused or unwanted items to donate or add to a yard sale. There are shoes that no longer fit, cups that lost their lid long ago, that gift from a great-aunt that was very clearly a re-gift and taking up space in our garage. And, inevitably, we add a few things to the pile that, just a few months ago, were on our “must have” list for birthdays or Christmas.
The item was exactly what we thought we wanted, but the reality of it wasn’t as perfect as we’d hoped. The toy was fun for a few minutes but was quickly replaced by something else. The appliance we thought we had to have only took up too much room in our cabinets and was harder to use than we ever thought. Things that held enormous value and potential just never quite lived up to our expectations, and now they were in a pile to find a new home.
No gift we could ever receive on this earth will last forever. It will become worn, run out of batteries, break, or be replaced by something new and exciting. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t buy gifts for those we love or be excited to receive a gift (it’s one of my top love languages), but it does help remind us to put our expectations into perspective.
The greatest gift we could ever receive will never fail us or fade away. The gift of God for all people is salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. It is freely given, available for everyone, and offers us a place with God for eternity. In this Advent season, how can you share this gift with someone?
Prayer:
God, thank You for the greatest gift You could ever offer me—the gift of salvation through Your Son. Help me see the people in my life who don’t yet know about this gift, and open opportunities for me to share the joy I have in You, with them. Amen.