THE GREATEST BIRTHDAY GIFT
THE GREATEST BIRTHDAY GIFT
O LORD, God of my salvation… —Psalm 88:1
It is March 28th in the Year of our Lord 2021. Wow! How did 66 years pass by since I was born? In all those years what is the greatest gift I have ever received? “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). I remember receiving that gift in February of 1979… just before my 24th birthday.
That is when God became the God of my salvation— salvation from sin and saved to a relationship with Him through Jesus. There is not greater gift than that gift. I did not deserve it— that is for sure. Nor could I earn it. I am so glad that Jesus made the way for me to receive that gift of salvation (John 6:44; 14:6; Acts 4:12)
Today I am one more year closer to agelessness. Eternity… wow… “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away. And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:2-5). Yes, I so look forward to that time! What a gift!
If I had the opportunity to receive a certain gift today, what would it be? The greatest gift I could ever have today is knowing that someone who is reading this would call on Jesus for that gift of salvation (Romans 10:13). There is no greater joy than that! That joy is so great that “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10).
There are many wonderful gifts my Lord, the God of my salvation, has given me. The gift of my faithful wife, the gifts of my children and their spouses, the gift of grandchildren (all girls so far), the gift of fellow believers and also those who do not know Jesus. There are many other gifts that come to mind as well. God is a faithful gift-giver. My desire on this birthday is that you would know the Gift-giver and be living for Him. That would be my greatest joy! Yes, it surely would. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUxI-ynsTnM
Dear Father You have given me the eternal gift of salvation through Your Son Jesus. I am eternally grateful. Now may I live for You in such a way that others would come to know this gift that You freely give to all who would call on Jesus for salvation from their sin and to be saved to a relationship with You through Him. May it be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.