Looking for the Best Gift?

At this time of year a question that is often posed is, “What can I give to him or her?” The hunt is on for gifts that are unique and thoughtful, intimate and witty, or sweet and cute. Up and down the country, people are looking for perfect gift ideas so that special gifts can be given to family and friends. But what is the best gift for her? What is the best present for him? The answer lies not only with the gift itself, but even more with the giver.

What is a gift? A gift is a present that one gives to others. It is not worked for and it is not earned. It is simply given and received. A gift does not need to be returned and it is not a loan. It does not need to be paid back now and will not need to be paid back in the future.

The greatest gift-giver is God (John 4:10) because He does not sell anything; He gives everything to man as gifts, even sunshine and rain, and never asks for money. Many people have the wrong concept that they need to have something or do something for God.

There is a story in the New Testament of a prodigal son who took half his father’s wealth, squandered it, and then was hungry and “longed to be satisfied with the carob pods which the hogs were eating, and no one gave him anything” (Luke 15:16). He eventually decided that the best thing to do was to go home where, at least, he could work as one of his father’s hired servants and be fed. But when he returned home, his father ran to him, clothed him with a robe, and fed him with a fattened calf. Did he deserve to have a robe or to eat a meal? No. He had spent everything he deserved to have, so everything he then received was a gift. God’s way of salvation is to give something for free (Revelation 22:17). It is not how much you can give Him, but how much God gives you.

So, what is the gift that God has given us? John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that every one who believes into Him would not perish, but would have eternal life.” We can put this together with John 1:12, which says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God.” The first verse says that God gave us His Son, and the second says that we receive His Son. He gives, and we receive. The way to be saved is to receive the Son of God.

The Bible says, “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). As soon as you call on the Lord, you will be saved. The Bible also says, “He who believes into the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36). As soon as you believe, you will be saved. This is God’s gospel; this is the gift He has given us, and this is the gift we can give to others. This is the best gift in the universe! This gift is God Himself. He is the gift and He is the Giver. He wants to give Himself to you, and all you have to do is receive.

To receive this free gift from God, simply open to Him and say:

Lord Jesus, I open my heart to You.
Thank You for dying for my sins
and giving Yourself to me.
Lord Jesus, come into me.
I receive You right now
as my Saviour and life.