The Greatest Gift Ever - April 29

Read Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Reflect

What is the best gift you have ever received?

What would you consider to be the best gift you ever received? For many, the best gifts are the most thoughtful gifts; the gifts that tell you that the giver really knows you well. They’re the gifts that stay with us even when we no longer possess them.

And when we go back to the Bible, we read that as believers in Christ, we have received a far better gift than any material possession.

In today’s verses, the apostle Paul explained that our salvation is a free gift from God. We didn’t do anything to earn it and we don’t deserve it. In His amazing grace, God gave us the gift of eternal life! All we have to do is accept the gift in faith.

For context, Paul had been reminding the Ephesian believers that prior to their new life in Christ, they were dead in their sins (Ephesians 2:1). He then wrote: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” (Ephesians 2:4-6). He took our sins upon Himself, paid our death sentence, and gave us eternal life in return.

Dr. Wiersbe studied this passage in Ephesians 2 and identified 4 things that God did for us to save us from the consequences of our sins. He loved us when we were still unlovable, He made us alive in Christ, He exalted us to sit in the heavenly places with Jesus Christ, and He keeps us for all eternity (Wiersbe Bible Commentary, New Testament). Wow! What a gift!

The gifts we’re given often come at a great cost. But when motivated by love and a desire for the other’s joy and happiness, the sacrifice was worth it. And if you’ve ever given a costly gift, you probably understand this. And yet, as great as this worldly gift was, it pales in comparison to the eternal gift that God has given you and me.

Because God has been incredibly generous to me, I want to be generous just like Him. But I will never be able to out give God or give someone a gift that could even compare. Perhaps the best gift I’ll ever be able to give someone is telling them how they too can accept the greatest gift ever.

Respond

Lord, thank You for the incredible gift of my salvation. You loved me, You gave me life, You’ve exalted me, and You keep me for all eternity. I am forever safe and loved with You. Help me share the gift of Your amazing grace with everyone who will listen. Amen.

Reveal

Tell someone about the greatest gift you’ve ever received—Jesus! Then, share how they can also accept the greatest gift ever.