WONDER OF GOD’S GREATEST GIFT

“Thanks be to God for HIS INDESCRIBABLE GIFT!” – 2 Corinthians 9:15

Divine Love was epitomised in the WONDER of GOD’S GREATEST GIFT: “Thanks be to God for HIS INDESCRIBABLE GIFT!” (2Cor.9:15). It is indescribable, unspeakable, inexpressible, and incapable of full explanation, that God gave His only begotten Son. There is nowhere on earth a perfect, sinless man would offer himself as a substitute for sinners to pay the penalty for their sins. Humanity was doomed. But Jesus became man to sacrifice Himself as the spotless Lamb of God who died on the cross to atone for our sins. God’s Greatest Gift is the supernatural God-man who brought salvation for us!

Our key text wraps up Paul's appeal to the Corinthians to participate willingly and cheerfully in giving generously to meet the needs of suffering Jerusalem believers. In the end, his focus was not on the gift of money he wanted collected, but on God's inexpressible gift to all who are in Christ – the sacrificial gift of Himself to humanity. We are in the season of sharing, giving, and gifts, but every worldly gift pales in comparison to the greatest of which is the Gift of Himself in the Person of His Son.

When God created Adam and Eve, He placed them in the Garden of Eden, where it was customary for Him to walk with them (Gen.3:8). Seeing God face-to-face in all His beauty and glory was routine for them. Sadly, all of that changed when they rebelled against God by listening to the serpent. Rather than feeling a sense of power and wisdom they experienced alienation from each other and particularly from God. Instead of running to God when He came for His daily stroll, they ran to hide from His Presence. God banished Adam and Eve from Eden, and placed angels to prevent them from re-entering.

Going forward, humanity remained distanced from God. Occasionally He appeared to individuals such as Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses. But when He redeemed the nation of Israel from slavery in Egypt, God made a covenant with them, and instructed Moses to build a tabernacle, with the Holy Place, where only the priests could perform their priestly duties, and the Holy of Holies or Most Holy Place in which was the Ark of the Covenant. Here, God descended in the form of a cloud to meet with His people, but only the high priest could enter once a year – the Day of Atonement, after elaborate rituals and sacrifices! The closest the average Israelite could get to the Presence of God was in the outer court.

Over time, the tabernacle gave way to temple, but still devoid of God’s Presence. When Jesus came, the Word resident AMONG us (Jh.1:14). God took up residence among sinful humanity, in the Person of Jesus Christ. Now, people could walk right up to God, touch Him, talk to Him, and interact with Him face-to-face! Yet, the vast majority of people who encountered Jesus in His earthly ministry had no idea they were encountering God with us. After Jesus died, resurrected, and ascended to heaven, the Word began to tabernacle IN US (Jh.14:16-17). The Cross made it possible for the perfectly holy God to dwell IN people who were by nature sinners. The Holy Spirit dwells WITH and IN us! We have come a long way from Eden!

God offers us the greatest Gift imaginable: Himself! He is far better than any gift we could ever imagine or desire. But this Gift must be received by confessing that Jesus is the Son of God – turning away from sin and treasuring Him above all else in our lives (1Jh.4:13-15). His offer is free even though it cost His very life. He invites us to turn away from sinful rebellion and surrender to Him by faith. God is calling us who have already received His greatest Gift, to rediscover the Wonder of His Gift – God taking up residence in our hearts! He who spoke everything, including us, into existence has chosen to make us His Habitation on earth. In this season of giving, let’s treasure God’s Greatest Gift! – Himself, in the Person of His Son!