Lots of presents under Christmas trees today. It’s nice to give and receive. A true gift is handed off without the expectation of anything in return, but in many cases we give a gift to someone because they deserve it. My wife deserves every gift I give her (along with a medal), for living with me.

David pointed out gifts from God that we enjoy, but certainly did nothing to deserve:

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love…He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

I love the language used to describes these gifts. God’s love reaches as high as the heavens above the earth, a vast distance signifying his immense devotion. Then, he removed the stain of our sin as far as the east is from the west, which goes on forever and ever.

We deserve the worst, as our transgressions affront the most Holy God, but we receive the best. The Lord is a generous giver.

David pointed out a reality that only found its footing with the coming of Jesus. His death and resurrection removed the stain of sin and paid for our iniquities. The Lord showed his compassion and graciousness through the sending of his Son.

Truly a gift you and I do not deserve, but one we can gratefully receive.

Psalm 103 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Yana Hurska