15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
(2 Corinthians 9:15)
There was a woman who had waited until the last minute to send Christmas cards. She knew she had 49 folks on her list. So she rushed into a store and bought a package of 50 cards without really looking at them. In her hurry, she mailed out 49 cards without reading the message inside. On Christmas Day, when things had quietened down a bit, she happened to come across the leftover card and finally read the message she had sent to 49 of her friends. Much to her dismay, it read: “This card is just to say a little gift is on the way.”
Christmas is always deemed as a season of giving, and gifts are exchanged as a gesture of appreciation and acceptance. But have you ever received a gift that was beyond description?”
In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul had been writing about human gifts in the earlier section of his letter. The church in Corinth was taking up offerings to give to the poor Christians in Jerusalem. He praised them for their eagerness to help, and reminded them that those who sow sparingly would reap sparingly, but those who sow generously would reap generously.
Then Paul shifted his attention from human gifts to God’s gift of sending His Son Jesus to earth for us, in verse 15. He could find no words to describe that. The generosity of the Corinthian church in giving financially to the poorer churches could not be compared with God’s ultimate gift of His Son to us. So he simply said, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.”
Why did Paul call Jesus “indescribable?” There are at least four reasons.
I. BECAUSE OF JESUS’ NATURE
How do you describe a baby born of a virgin? What words would you choose? How do you describe God in flesh, walking upon our earth and reaching out to many who were hurting and dying in sin?
The prophet Isaiah said He would be called Emmanuel, “God with us.” But how do you describe that? What words would you choose? How do you describe God who is infinite when we are so finite?
II. BECAUSE OF JESUS’ MISSION
The angels announced to the shepherds, “Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)
What do we celebrate at Christmas? We celebrate the fact that Jesus was born into our world to save us, in fulfillment of God’s promise given after the Fall of Adam. When God looked at our world, He knew that our greatest need is not for more wealth, nor better schools, not even a better health system. Our greatest need is for a Savior.
III. BECAUSE OF GOD’S GRACE
God doesn’t owe us anything, yet He so willingly gives us what we needed most. In fact, we do not know what we really need for ourselves; and so we foolishly rebel against Him and His purpose for our lives.
In this regard, Paul says something remarkable in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, while we were yet the enemies of God, Christ died on the cross for us.”
Yes, God gives us a gift, not because He feels obligated but because He simply loves us! His immense and immeasurable love for us had caused Him to give us what we do not deserve. And we call such a gift – a gift of grace!
IV. BECAUSE OF JESUS’ IMPACT ON US
When you open your gifts this Christmas, will your life be different? The Bible teaches us that when we accept Jesus, the indescribable gift of God, we will never be the same again, because of how He affects our life.
First, we will be forgiven of our sins. When our sins are forgiven, God forgets them, He will remove them far away from us as the east is from the west.
Secondly, we are given a new identity. We are adopted into His family and we are guaranteed citizenship in His kingdom.
Thirdly, we receive the gift of His Holy Spirit to live within us - to guide, counsel, protect and empower us.
Fourthly, we are given His peace – a peace that allows us to cope with every situation, and look beyond the imperfections of our world to see the absolute perfection of God in heaven.
Finally, because of Jesus in our hearts, our dwelling place in heaven is paid for – a perpetual dwelling place where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. And that too is beyond description.
Friends, how in the world do you describe that which is indescribable? The good news is that you don’t have to be able to describe Him in order to accept Him. You only need to “declare with your mouth that ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
Hesitate no longer, open God’s package of love specially addressed to you, receive His indescribable gift, and let Jesus bring warmth, light, joy and meaning into your heart now and always.
Prayer:
Thank You, dear God, for Your immense love for me each day of my life. Thank You for giving me the Greatest Gift of all, the Gift that is beyond description, Your Son Jesus Christ. Help me, as Your redeemed child, to reflect the light of Jesus in all that I say, do, and think during this Christmas season and always. I ask this in the saving name of Jesus, AMEN.
Rev Dr Steven Gan
Amazing Grace Presbyterian Church
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