Raising World Changers In A Changing World By Kristen WelchSmakprov

Day Four

The Ultimate Gift

Scripture: John 3:16

In the beginning, on that very first day when God created, He gave. He gave us the earth and everything in it. He created plants and animals and people and declared it was very good. From the foundation of the world, we see a God who is wildly generous. When we took the one thing that didn’t belong to us, God gave us more—His Son. We see the ultimate gift of love in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son” (NIV). 

Jesus came wrapped in humanity and became the greatest example of generosity because He gave the greatest gift—Himself. The night Jesus gave His life, He told His disciples, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13 NIV). 

As parents we get a small glimpse into this kind of sacrificial love. We would do anything for our children. But only God freely gave a Son who came willingly to die. 

Jesus walked on earth and showed us how to live. He didn’t give away money, but He freely gave healing, freedom, life, and forgiveness. And when He left He gave us three critical tasks that should shape our homes as we parent our kids. He commanded us to do the following: 

1. Love God. “‘Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?’ Jesus said, ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.” This is the most important, the first on any list’” (Matthew 22:36–38). 

2. Love others. “But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself’” (Matthew 22:39–40). 

3. Make disciples. “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age’” (Matthew 28:18–20 ESV). 

Jesus didn’t just tell us what to do; He showed us what to do. He was our example—the greatest giver of all who became the ultimate gift.