Most of us recognize that, as Paul said in Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Still, we can’t deny that we like to be on the receiving end of gifts as well. Many times when we receive gifts it isn’t really the cost of the gift that matters the most to us, it is the fact that the giver cared enough for us to spend either their money or their time on us. The giving of a gift shows that we are important to the giver. Sometimes, however, the cost of the gift, the sacrifice involved, can show how important the receiver is to the giver.
Consider, then, the gift that God offers us. In Romans 6:23 the apostle Paul writes that, “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”. God the Father offers us the greatest gift ever offered, a gift that came at immense cost, the life of His Son. In Romans 5:8 Paul says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” And in 1 Peter 1:18-19 Peter says, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
The gift that God offers us, eternal life, was paid for with the life of His Son. How can we refuse such a wonderful gift?