THE WAGES AND THE GIFT

Sin leads to death, but God freely gives life through Jesus.

Romans 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I don’t know about you, but I often let my heart settle too long on the first half of that verse—the wages, the sin, the consequence. And while that truth is real and sobering, working with children has taught me something beautiful: they think about the gift.

Yes, our sinful nature is a reality. But God’s gift is a greater reality. During chapel when children hear about the gift of Jesus, they don’t get tangled up in adult worries: Am I worthy? What will Jesus ask me to change? What might I have to give up?

No—children simply marvel. Their hearts leap straight to the wonder:

Jesus wants to live in my heart!

Jesus will be my best friend!

Jesus will help me when I’m in trouble!

To them, it’s not something hard to figure out… it’s just amazing news.

I’ve watched a child raise their hand to accept Jesus with total joy—unembarrassed, unafraid, not wondering what someone else thinks. And sometimes, they raise that hand hoping their friend will do it too: “Jesus can live in both our hearts!” Double wow.

The gift of God is simple yet incredible: eternal life in Christ Jesus. He gives it not because we’ve earned it, not because we are worthy, not because we’ve done something special… but because He loves us. Deeply. Personally. Eternally.

We are His children.

And children know what to do with a gift—they receive it with joy.

Reflection - Romans 6:23 reminds us that while sin earns us separation and death, God’s love gives us something entirely different—a gift we could never earn: eternal life through Jesus Christ. At Christmas, we should remember that this gift came to us wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. Children don’t overthink a gift—they receive it with joy and wonder. As we celebrate this season, may we let our hearts return to that same childlike awe, focusing not on what we fear we lack, but on the incredible gift God freely offers to us through His Son.

Prayer - Dear God, help me to approach this Christmas season with a childlike heart. Teach me to embrace the joy, the wonder, and the beautiful gift You have given in Jesus Christ.  Help me to receive Your gift with the same simple trust and excitement as a child. Amen.

It’s a Wonderful Life (Wonder-filled Life)