By Gail Marsh
What’s the best gift you ever received? Was it a birthday gift? Or maybe a Christmas present? Maybe your best gift ever was a surprise, for no special reason at all! Why do people give gifts?
Imagine there is a big stack of gifts. They are all piled up and almost reach to the ceiling! Do you think one of the gifts might belong to you? How can you tell which gift might be yours? What can you do to find your gift? (Look at the gift tag. It will have your name on the tag, so you know that gift is for you.)
When you open a special gift, one chosen out of great love for you, what can you do or say to the one who gives you that special gift?
We get gifts from our family and sometimes from our friends, too. But did you know that God has a very special gift for you? He had you in mind when he decided on this gift. Listen closely to discover what gift God gave. I’ll read about it from the Bible, John 3:16 (ESV):
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Did you hear what God gave to you? God gave his Son, Jesus. Not only that . . . because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, you have many other gifts as well! Because of the gift of Jesus, you have forgiveness! Because of Jesus, you belong to the family of God! Through faith in the gift of Jesus, you will have a life forever with him in heaven!
That’s a lot of gifts, isn’t it? Why did God send Jesus to be your Savior? He loves you—that’s why! The Bible says God knows your name, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isaiah:43:1 ESV).
God knows much more about you than your name. Listen to Luke 12:7 (ESV):
Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
Wow! God knows how many hairs are on your head! He knows when you wake up and when you fall asleep (Psalm 139:2). Jesus knows when you feel afraid or powerless. He promises he will always be with you, too!
The gift of Jesus is the very best gift ever given. God gave Jesus to be your Savior. He did it because God loves you. He really, really loves you!
What can you do to thank Jesus for all he has done for you?
