For God So loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life» (John 3:16).
WHAT DETERMINES THE ACTUAL VALUE OF A GIFT? According to Robert A. Emmons, the value of a gift, and the corresponding feeling of gratitude it awakens in whoever receives it, mostly depends on two factors.
The first factor refers to the cost of the gift, not in monetary terms, but rather the «cost» to the gift giver in terms of personal effort, having deprived oneself of something one needed, to give it to someone else as an expression of love or to show appreciation.
This first aspect of the true value of a gift reminds me of something that happened at my wedding. Esther, who worked in Public Service at that time, came up with the idea to send wedding invitations to several ministers of the national government, even though she knew they would not attend the ceremony. A handful of ministers sent us high quality gifts. The question here is: How much did the gift they sent us «cost» those public officers, in terms of personal effort? I do not want to seem ungrateful, but I am afraid they were not the ones who personally went from store to store to find a gift for us.
The second factor, writes Emmons, has to do with the motive that drives the gift giver. Is my gift giving merely a formality? To get by? To look good? Or because “that” person has already given me a gift?»
Can you think of a biblical example that illustrates what we have been saying? The first one that comes to mind is the poor widows offering. because with those two small coins, she gave «all the livelihood that she had» (Luke 21:4).
However, my mind turns to Calvary. There I see the greatest of all offerings, the greatest gift, that heaven gave us in the person of our wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ. How much did it cost the Father to give His beloved Son? How much did it mean for Him to see His Son being So cruelly treated? Words cannot describe it. And why did He give that gift? So that «whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. »
The most amazing thing about all this is that we received this precious gift. not because we loved God, but because «he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins» (1 John 4: 10, NW).
Thank God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15).
I praise You, rather, because through Your Son You gave all of heaven in order to save me.
Please help me to share that great gift with everyone I meet today.
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2022
“GREAT IS OUR GOD!”
From: FERNANDO ZABALA
Colaboradores: Xiomara Perdomo & Angelica Cuate
