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

Have you ever stopped to think about birthdays and why we celebrate them? A birthday marks a day of arrival, a time when someone entered the world, but in many ways, it’s the mother who does all the work. Yet, we honor the person born with gifts, gatherings, and songs. At a child’s birthday party, we bring gifts, share treats, and even hand out little tokens to everyone who attended, regardless of their contributions. In celebrating, there’s no expectation that anyone “earned” the event or gifts. Gifts are simply given, received, and no one offers to pay for their gift. 

Christmas is much the same—a day when we exchange gifts not because we have done something remarkable, but because we are recognizing an incredible, undeserved gift. Just like we sing to the birthday child, one tradition our family does is to sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus on Christmas morning. The point is to remind us that Jesus is the true Gift at Christmas, the reason we exchange gifts with one another.

In Romans 6:23, we’re reminded of this astounding reality: while our own actions earn us nothing but separation from God, God’s love, expressed through Jesus, gives us eternal life—a gift we could never earn. Just like the child at a birthday party who receives gifts without any effort of his own, we, too, are given the greatest gift of all, though we’ve done nothing to deserve it.

Think of a gift you’ve received that was completely unexpected. Maybe you even felt you didn’t deserve it. How did you respond? My mother always taught me that the right response to a gift (even cloths) is to accept it gratefully. The truth is, no amount of good behavior or effort on our part could ever repay God for the gift of salvation. We simply receive it.

This Christmas season, as we celebrate and exchange gifts, let’s remember that we are the recipients of the greatest gift—the love and eternal life given to us freely through Jesus. It’s not something we can earn, nor is it something God requires us to pay back. Just like at a child’s birthday party, even those who feel least deserving are invited to receive.

Reflect

What does the gift of salvation mean to you personally?

How does this perspective change the way you view giving and receiving gifts with others?



Prayer

Lord, thank you for the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Help me to receive it with a grateful heart, knowing I could never earn it. May this season be a reminder of Your love and grace, which You pour out to all of us freely. Amen.

Bran Mills