From the Throne to the Manger

Dec 17 – Dec 25

The Indescribable Gift

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/22/20

It is only with spiritual hearts and minds that we can begin to comprehend what Christ’s birth began.

Read Romans 5:15 and 2 Corinthians 9:15.

This Christmas, every gift you receive will pale in comparison to the ultimate gift—salvation in Christ Jesus. This gift from God to the world, begun in human history at the birth of Jesus Christ, is truly incomprehensible.

I’ve read through the Bible every year for decades, but I still find myself speechless when it comes to trying to describe how wonderful salvation truly is. How can I do justice to the reality that a sinner like me can be forgiven? “[A]s far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). This promise, the message the angels declared to poor shepherds (see Luke 2:10-11), is enough to make me shout.

Christ Jesus came to earth to remove our filthy rags of self-righteousness, shame, and guilt. In their place, He clothes us in His perfect righteousness. And, as if that weren’t enough, He made it possible for all who believe in Him to be adopted into the family of God—enjoying all the privileges of being His sons and daughters.

Most startling of all, this great gift is granted not to God’s friends, but to His enemies (see Romans 5:8). This Christmas and every day, may we exclaim with the apostle Paul, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

Prayer: Lord, what a wondrous love You displayed on that cross. Though I deserve Your wrath, You called me out of darkness and shower me with grace upon grace. May I live a life that honors You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!” (Romans 5:15).