Everyone remembers a Christmas or birthday where you get that "special" gift. The one that you unwrap the nice, colorful paper in eager expectation of it being just what you needed. But then you think to yourself, "How would they know what I really want anyway?" Your suspicions are confirmed on revealing the contents of the package. With your best smile of sincere gratitude, you thank the giver for remembering you on this day, while inside you think of a deep, dark closet in which to store this item that you will never use. One day, two years later, while sifting through the closets for something else, you uncover this "thing" and chuckle, shaking your head.
Then there is the gift from someone who really knows you. They are with you a lot more and know what you like and are involved with. They know your heart's desires. Their gift may be that thoughtful gift that is perfect for you at the time. You wear it, use it, display it, and tell everyone about it. It is with you during the day and becomes a part of your life.
2 Corinthians 9: 15 says, "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!". Paul had to add an exclamation point to portray his excitement about this gift. He couldn't even think of a good enough word that existed to describe how awesome it was so he made up one: "indescribable" - too cool for words to describe. Such is the nature of God's gift to us in Jesus Christ: eternal life. It is the perfect, complete, and ultimate gift that no one can ever even come close to matching in return. And it is ours to receive. It is ours to wear. It is ours to carry everywhere we go. It is ours to share with others. It is our motivation to give of ourselves back to God in acts of service, as if asking, "God, I know what you've done for me, now what can I give back to you in return?"
Think about what He went through on the cross. For us He died, so that we might be with Him forever. I hope that is a gift we will daily embrace and cherish. Let this move us to dive into the word to learn the heart of God, live by the Spirit, and act when He calls us to join Him in His work.
