Under the tree was the biggest package he had ever seen. It was wrapped in paper with a huge red bow on it. His eyes widened as he stood staring at the package. Needless to say he was excited! He could hardly wait until he tore the paper off to see what was inside. On the other side of town there was no tree. There were no packages with bows, only emptiness. As she stood looking she wondered why she didn’t have a gift. Sadly she turned around and walked to the small room that she slept in. It’s the time of year when we get excited about giving and sometimes receiving gifts. There are some homes that will have more than enough gifts while others will have none at all. It doesn’t seem fair but that is the way it is. When my children were in their younger years they would make me gifts. Those gifts are special and precious to me. I loved those gifts. But the greatest gift I have received was the salvation that God the Father offered through His Son Jesus Christ. It was a gift that will surpass all gifts. This gift was very precious to the Father, as He gave His only child, His Son. (John 3:16) And His Son died a harsh and cruel death so that I could have my salvation. But it is not just my gift, but one that is offered to everyone. Paul wrote in Eph. 2:8-10, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (NASB) Are the gifts that you are going to give this year costly? Are you spending a great deal of money on them? No matter the cost, it could never be as costly as the life that Jesus gave. And when I think about the greatest gift that I have given others, it has to be the gift of sharing the gospel. I have had the opportunity to sit and study with some who have never heard of Jesus. When we have opened the Bible and seen what the Lord desires one to do to be saved, then that, to me, is great joy. When they actually obey what the Lord teaches, they have salvation from their sins. The greatest present this year money cannot buy. Do you have this present?