Salvation is a gift given by God. Paul teaches this clearly in Ephesians 2:8. A gift is, “something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation” (Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary). That is what God did for us. He gave us the gift of salvation. He did not do it for compensation, but out of the love of His heart. It was such an enormous gift that we can never pay God back. It is hard to imagine a Being of God’s power doing what He did. David was amazed that God even thought about man. After alluding to the power of God, demonstrated by His creation of the heavens, David said to the LORD, “…what is man that you are mindful of him?” That is a good question. Why would someone who answers to no one and is above everyone in knowledge, wisdom, and strength, be so considerate of such inadequate creatures as us? Well, it probably has something to do with the fact that we are His creation. It definitely has to do with the fact that He, for whatever reason, loves us unconditionally. God loves us so much that He gave us the unspeakable gift of His Son (2 Corinthians 9:15), and as a result, the gift of salvation.

Everything about our salvation is a gift. It was not enough for Jesus to leave heaven and live as a man here on earth. He had to be despised and rejected by man. Isaiah prophesized about it.

Isaiah 53:3-4 (ESV)
³ He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. ⁴ Surely, he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

Jesus could have escaped all of this at any time. Do you remember His words to Peter when he attacked the servant of the high priest who had come to arrest Jesus? He said, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:52-53).

Jesus endured this persecution voluntarily. John tells us that He knew all that would happen to Him (John 18:4). However, even allowing man to mistreat Him so badly was not enough. Jesus had to bear the shame and suffering of the cross. Isaiah foretold of that too.

Isaiah 53:4-5 (ESV)
⁴ Surely, he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Do you know Who was watching all of this? His Father and our God in heaven. God watched as His only begotten Son was pierced for our transgressions. He could have put a stop to it but instead, the Father watched as Jesus was stricken and afflicted. Why? It was all a part of the plan. It was a part of God giving man what he needed, that is, a perfect sacrifice to pay the price for our sins (Romans 6:23). It was all a part of the gift.

Our salvation did not come cheap. The price for redemption was indeed a high price to pay. We did not have to pay it. We could not pay it; only God could. Thank God He was willing to pay the price. What a gift. We can never pay God back, but we can show our appreciation by serving Him daily.

As you wind down for the night, think on these things.