The absolute best gifts to receive are the ones that we want, but can’t provide for ourselves. An engagement ring is an example of this type of gift. I may be able to afford to buy a beautiful ring, but it is only significant if it is received by my fiancée. If I don’t have a relationship where my ring is received, I don’t have a fiancée. I just have a beautiful ring.
Even if we want to, we are incapable of giving some gifts. This may be a silly example, but I can’t give anyone a tour of Buckingham Palace in England. I don’t have access to Buckingham Palace. I don’t know anyone personally who has access to Buckingham Palace. To my knowledge, I don’t have any way to get that access. Even if I think the best gift in the world to give is a tour of Buckingham Palace, I have no way to give it.
We are incapable of giving ourselves salvation from sin, relationship with God, and eternal life. But God knows our need and offers us that gift from His grace for us. One of my favorite phrases in all of scripture is “But God…”. He does amazing things (Hab.1:5) and nothing is too difficult for Him (Jer. 32:17). God created us to receive His gift of salvation and Jesus paid the cost for our adoption.
Forgiveness through Jesus is a gift beyond compare. We cannot work to earn forgiveness; we can only receive it. Paul, shares this truth in the book of Romans.
Romans 4:4-8 (NCV)
When people work, their pay is not given as a gift, but as something earned. 5 But people cannot do any work that will make them right with God. So they must trust in him, who makes even evil people right in his sight. Then God accepts their faith, and that makes them right with him. 6 David said the same thing. He said that people are truly blessed when God, without paying attention to their deeds, makes people right with himself. 7 “Blessed are they whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. 8 Blessed is the person whom the Lord does not consider guilty.”
From the beginning, God planned that He would forgive humanity through Jesus. Forgiveness is a gift that God is pleased to give to all who will receive it.
Ephesians 1:7-10(NCV)
In Christ we are set free by the blood of his death, and so we have forgiveness of sins. How rich is God’s grace, 8 which he has given to us so fully and freely. God, with full wisdom and understanding, 9 let us know his secret purpose. This was what God wanted, and he planned to do it through Christ. 10 His goal was to carry out his plan, when the right time came, that all things in heaven and on earth would be joined together in Christ as the head.
Praise God for His rich grace, freely given. Praise God for His wisdom, understanding and plans. Praise God for His purpose to share forgiveness that we can have relationship with Him.