While, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:13–15—NKJV)

It is kind of sad that Christmas lore has taught us to think that if we try really hard and “mind our p’s and q’s” we will receive gifts because we have been good little boys and girls. Even worse is the fact that very few parents really take this maxim and its consequence into account when planning Christmas gifts for their children. So, though the quaint bit of advice (to be good so you can get good gifts) is honored in songs and is voiced by our elders, in reality, there are really very few incentives to sincere goodness.

I am afraid that we have carried this same foundational concept into our relationship with our living Lord. This misconception is a fundamental misrepresentation of the grace of God. The reality is no one can merit the least of His favor. Romans 5:7–8 expresses our bankruptcy of virtue and downright rebellious state while comparing our depravity to God’s gracious love, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Let it never be said that God has done nothing for you. Remember that God allows the rain and the sun to bless all men. Ecclesiastes 3:12–13 reads, “I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.” Solomon elaborates further in 5:18–19, “Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him: for it is his heritage. As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God.”

This gracious largess of God is even more pronounced for every believer who can together say, “The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad” (Psalm 126:3). God’s forthright goodness is felt by us every time He answers our prayers for our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). God does this because He is a good Father to His own. Matthew 7:11 states, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” James 1:16–18 says, “Do not be deceived, my brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”

God’s giving is based upon His choice and His plan of redemption. John 3:16 teaches, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall never perish but have eternal life.” Romans 8:32 reads, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” The totality of your salvation is sourced in God’s gracious gift as Ephesians 2:8 states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Romans 11:29 adds, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” God’s giving displays the true nature of a gift! Observe the same truth in Romans 6:22–23, “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

You see, God’s gift of the Christ Child is a gift that is ever relevant, ever fresh, ever inexhaustible, and ever exerted in the life of every one who trusts in Him. For this reason Paul calls this gift of His Son an indescribable gift. “Words fail to describe and commemorate for we are not able to neither narrate in full nor declare to the fullest.” God’s gift of His Son keeps giving to eternity. This is the quality of the gift all men have received in Christ, especially those who have entrusted the care of their souls wholly in His capable hands (1 Timothy 4:10). Rejoice in this, the greatest gift, in this season and all seasons of life. Trust and obey.