^“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

As the New Year approaches, that Christmas tree is looking lonely and abandoned. The beautifully-wrapped presents that had been piled underneath have been opened, and the mounds of wrapping paper, ribbons, and packing materials have been deposited in the garbage heap. As you reflect on the Christmas just past, I hope you and your family members greatly delighted in opening those gifts, but, more importantly, that you joyfully appreciated the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of the Savior who came to deliver mankind from the penalty of sin.

 Members of my generation may recall the well-known advertising slogan “the gift that keeps on giving,” a catch phrase dating back many years that was once used successfully by various companies to promote and sell their products, especially during the crucial Christmas rush. It may have sounded pretty convincing, but in reality even the most treasured of those presents that you opened earlier this week, like all of the material things of this world, are temporal and ultimately have no lasting value.

 However, the one gift that cannot be purchased in stores and virtual shops of this world does indeed keep on giving everlasting joy, peace, and hope to those who will receive it. Lovingly wrapped in God’s amazing grace to be treasured forever by those who choose to accept it, this is the greatest gift every given! It is God’s priceless gift of salvation offered freely to repentant sinners who claim it by faith in Jesus Christ whose birth we just celebrated, and who paid for it with His life. This gift of God’s abounding love truly “keeps on giving,” eternally!

 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 3:23)