I grew up in a family that had the funds for necessities, but nothing for extras. For our birthdays, we never received a gift; we had only a cake. Mother wrapped coins and placed them in between layers of the cake. Each of us always hoped that we would be the one who got the quarter.

When I became a teenager, I started to babysit. I would give my money to Mother to hold or use. On my sixteenth birthday, there was not just a cake but also a little box wrapped in fancy paper with the words, "Happy birthday Ruth".

I opened the box to see a tiny ladies' wind-up Longines Wittnauer wristwatch with a stainless-steel back. It was too fancy to wear every day, but I wore it to church on Sunday. I have that watch today, and it still works, keeping good time. Mother used some of my money to buy me a gift.

Today, I can't see the name on the watch due to some eyesight failure. But I know that the watch is still the original bought as the gift for my sixteenth birthday. I looked for my watch online and saw that it had a two-year guarantee that has long since expired.

This all reminds me of the greatest gift given to mankind.

Galatians 4:4-5 – But when the time was fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. (NIV)

God sent His Son Jesus to earth to pay the penalty for our sin on Calvary.

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)

All these centuries later, the salvation that Jesus bought for us with His life still works. Just as I had to accept the gift of the watch to make it mine, so we need to accept this free gift of God, eternal life, that He offers to everyone. Accepting Jesus as Saviour comes with a guarantee that never expires: "I will never leave you; I will never forsake you." What a Saviour!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may we personally know Your gift, Jesus Christ, by acceptance of His work on the cross for us. May we be daily mindful of Your love for us and share it with others. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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About the author:

Ruth Rowe <ruthjohn.rowe@gmail.com>
Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada
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