[God] did not spare his own Son,
but gave him up for us.
—Romans 8:32
O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi is the love story of Jim and Della, each wanting to give the other a special Christmas gift—but they had no money.
Jim’s prized possession is a gold pocket watch; Della’s is her long hair. Della sells her locks and buys a chain for Jim’s watch; Jim sells his watch and buys a set of combs for Della’s hair.
Touching, but not the greatest love story ever told.
This is . . .
“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that [we might] have eternal life” (Jn 3:16).
“There is no greater love than this—that a man should lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13).
God gave up his Son—from heaven to a crib, to a cross. Jesus gave up glory for Golgotha.
You can give without loving,
but you can’t love without giving.