The One Gift We Really Need

Good things come in small packages. The gist of this cliché reveals that value is not measured by the size of the box, and true treasure is often disguised in small ways.

For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.

In this short verse from John 1, rich treasure is relayed in 12 simple words. Uncontainable worth in a small package—this is the one gift we really need.

Everything we could every need is provided for in this one sentence. Every lack, every problem, every resistance, and every emptiness we’ll ever experience is filled in Christ. Let’s back up just a verse or two:

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus is the fullness of God—all that God is and all that God has.

This divine completion is what He offers to us. The fullness of God is given to us through grace upon grace—the favor of God in a cumulative supply—over and over. His offer is to fill us, to level up our empty places and fill our hearts like a net, bulging with so many fish that not one more can be added.

Born as a tiny infant in humble circumstances, the fullness of God, the ultimate good thing came in a small package. That Jesus would empty Himself of this God-glory and choose to wrap Himself in the tender skin of an infant should make us catch our breath. It should stop us short in absolute awe.

Grace upon grace…

Grace is the favor and mercy of God:

His blessing

His gift

His joy

His abundance

His pleasure

His forgiveness…

One grace-blessing heaped on another grace-provision, heaped on yet another grace-gift.

There is only one word in this short phrase that asks anything of us.

Receive.

The gift of grace is given, but our job it to receive it, to reach out and take hold of this treasure so lovingly given. We can only receive by believing.

Faith is the energy that empowers our hearts to take hold of grace.

Unwrap the Gift and Use It

Grace of God given in Christ is a gift to be unwrapped and lived in. How often have we left this precious gift unused on the shelf of our self-sufficiency?

How often have we received the fullness of God with mental belief, but denied the power of the gift in the way we choose to go about our day?

How many times have we simply forgotten, task driven and heart empty, that we have received grace upon grace and the fullness of God?

How little we functionally understand this grace upon grace, the divine multiplier of our soul.

The True Gift Under Your Tree

Take a look at your Christmas tree, covered with lights and cherished memories. More than likely there are a few gifts, beautifully wrapped, waiting to be opened on Christmas day.

What if we never opened those gifts?

What if we merely left them decorating the tree?

What would we miss?

Wouldn’t it be a waste?

Wouldn’t it be a shame?

This Christmas…open the gift of God’s fullness with hands tearing at the wrapping of joy, eager to understand more of what is in the box of God’s grace.