God so loved the world that he gave . . .
—John 3:16
Here’s a bouquet of verses to remind us of what the Lord gave before we ever put a penny in the plate.
To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (Jn 1:12).
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (Jn 3:16).
He . . . did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us (Rom 8:32).
[He] gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age (Gal 1:4).
The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Gal 2:20).
We can’t earn it or match it,
but it’s our turn to give back.