I had to go to Home Depot to find out if they had an item that William and I needed for a home project. Once in the store, I could not find it no matter how many aisles I searched. Finally, I asked an employee if he could help me. He was puzzled about the item I was looking for, so could not point me in the right direction to obtain it. It wasn’t by chance that another man overheard our conversation and knew exactly what I was searching for. To my surprise, he willingly took time to show me where it was on the shelf and took it up to the front cashier for me. The employee thanked him and had the authority to give him a discount for assisting me when he could not. I was delighted that he was going to get a discount for taking time out of his schedule to help me. However, he refused the discount, grabbed my item, and placed it among his supplies to pay for it. I quickly responded by asking him to please take the gift of the discount offered to him and to not worry about my purchase, but he would not. Then the cashier and I both began to commend this man for his kindness and gift of generosity. It took something for this man to purchase my item freely as a gift; and quite honestly, for me to accept it. Yet, if all of us could give and receive from one another, no matter the gift, the world would be a better place.
In looking at 2 Corinthians 9:15, it states, ”Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” This passage is a spontaneous outburst of the Apostle Paul after discussing the collection of monetary gifts that would be bestowed upon the impoverished believers in Jerusalem by the Corinthians. Apparently, his thoughts focused on two things: (1) God Himself is the greatest giver of all; (2) Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, is the greatest gift of all. This short passage calls us to focus on two additional things during this Christmas season and always.
Understand Indescribable
When it says, “indescribable” it means it! This word indescribable (Greek is anĕkdiēgētŏs) means beyond words, unspeakable, to not expound in full or cannot fully tell, or unable to be told. How do you truly describe or explain what God has done for us through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ? It is only God Himself, through the power of the Holy Spirit, that anyone can comprehend enough to receive Jesus as their Lord. So even during this Christmas season when we are trying to proclaim this gift of Jesus to this world, we still fall short of being able to fully explain Who He is and why He came. It surely takes the Holy Spirit to use our feeble expressions to bring salvation to anyone. This should humble us indeed. Yet, it should not stop us from every and any effort to do our best in telling others, trusting God to do what only He can do. For over 30 years, I am still proclaiming this indescribable gift to others through this ministry.
Understand Thankfulness
Just like the man in Home Depot, God knows what you need and has supplied it. Love, eternal salvation, spiritual riches, and all that pertains to an abundant life has been freely given to all who receive God’s indescribable gift of Jesus Christ (click here to learn more). Just like me in the store, you cannot earn or pay for His gift. Likewise, with me in the store, the correct response would be to humbly receive this free gift, to give thanks, and then to freely gift others going forward. (You can freely gift others now by even sharing this blog with them.)
I trust you know for sure that you have received God’s indescribable gift and has expressed thanks to Him. Emulating Paul, may praise erupt from your lips as well!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) (Click here to learn more.)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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