June 26, 2004

THE GIFT OF GOD

"Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water' " (John 4:10, NIV).

In His memorable encounter with the woman at Jacob's well in Sychar, Jesus gave Himself this most appropriate title, "the gift of God." In giving Jesus, God gave us all things that pertain to life and happiness both here and hereafter (see Romans 8:32).

God's gifts to us are copious. But no gift, however wonderful, can be compared with the gift of Jesus. He is the incomparable and transcendent gift of God. Paul speaks of God's gift as the "indescribable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15, NKJV). Jesus came to earth as God's indescribable gift, wrapped up and packaged in human flesh. He is God's crowning gift of open-hearted love and grace. One of the exquisite truths of this great gift is that as the Giver, so is the gift. Jesus lovingly and willingly gave Himself for us (see Galatians 2:20).

God has freely given us this mighty gift, unmerited, unbought, and unsought. All the sinner needs to do is to accept and appropriate the gift (see John 3:16). A pardoned prisoner is not free until he accepts the pardon and steps out of his or her cell and walks into freedom. So it is with God's gift of His Son. The gift of God becomes efficacious only as the gift is received into the heart. "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12, NKJV). With that great gift comes forgiveness, peace with God, eternal life, and heaven at last. "No gift could be imparted that equaled in value the gift of the Son of God, and every other gift that men receive, is an outflowing from this measureless gift. Eternity itself will not exhaust the treasure of the gift of God to the world."--Review and Herald, Sept. 11, 1894.

My Prayer Today: Lord, because You are the gift of God to me, I accept You without reservation. Amen.