God has many gifts for us to receive, but let us consider today the greatest gift of all. "Now abide faith, hope, and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13). God's greatest gift to us is love. Why would God love us? We could never earn it, nor deserve it. God loves us for one reason alone. "God is love" (1 John 4:8).
How do we receive God's greatest gift of love? It comes to us through Jesus Christ our Lord. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). God's greatest gift of love is received by believing in His Son. Believing is receiving God's greatest gift.
Where can we find God's greatest gift? Only at the cross of Jesus can we find God's greatest gift. In Christ crucified, God's greatest gift is on display for the world to see. No greater love could ever be found. His love for us as sinners is beyond question. God's love in Christ crucified takes away our sins. At the cross, God's love is proven. "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
How do we experience God's greatest gift of love? It can only be experienced in our hearts. Only the Holy Spirit can make God's greatest gift real to us, "because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:5).
