By Matt Osborne, Staff Writer

The NBA regular season officially tipped off last night, as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 119-107 in front of a raucous home crowd.

The atmosphere in the Mile High City was even more electric than usual, as the Nuggets were honored for last season’s NBA championship during a special pregame ceremony, which included the revealing of a banner in the rafters and a ring presentation for members of last season’s team.

The ring presentation is always a special part of the opening of the NBA season, but last night’s ceremony seemed to create even more buzz than usual due to the lavish nature of the Nuggets’ rings.

Each ring came equipped with 16 carats of diamonds (representing the team’s 16 postseason wins), a lever that allows the background on the top of the ring to change from diamonds to sapphires, and a retractable compartment that displays the 2023 championship banner.

With an estimated cost of between $50,000 and $150,000 for each ring, Denver’s championship jewelry is one of the most elaborate and expensive designs in history.

There’s certainly no denying the fact that the Denver players, coaches, and staff earned the rings they were given. The years of consistent hard work, dedication, and sacrifice that went into producing a championship-caliber team undoubtedly deserve to be rewarded handsomely.

Denver’s ring celebration last night draws my attention back to the “Parable of the Prodigal Son,” which is recorded for us in Luke 15.

In this parable, Jesus tells of a son who dishonors his father by requesting his share of the inheritance prematurely. To make matters worse, this son then runs off and squanders his inheritance money by engaging in all sorts of wild and sinful activities.

When the son hits rock bottom after his foolish choices, he eventually comes to his senses and decides that he will return to his father.

Luke 15:18-19 (ESV) tells us that the son said, “I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.’”

But Jesus continues the parable by telling of the surprising response the father has once his repentant son returns from his sinful escapades.

The response is recorded in Luke 15:20-24 (ESV): “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

The compassion and mercy the father shows his rebellious son is simply astonishing. Rather than making him pay for his transgressions and giving him what he deserves, the father elects to give him what he most assuredly doesn’t deserve: a robe for his body, a ring for his finger, shoes for his feet, and an acknowledgment that he is still his son.

The Denver Nuggets may have worked hard to earn their rings, but true followers of Jesus receive an even more precious “ring” from their Lord even though they have done absolutely nothing to deserve it.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) tells us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

This is what makes the “Good News” so good: Undeserving sinners receive the most valuable gift one could receive through no merit of their own. All glory goes to God because it is His grace alone which brings us into eternal life.

Romans 5:6-8 (NIV) says, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person, someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Today, let’s take some time to meditate on the priceless “ring” we’ve been given in Christ so that we might overflow with gratitude for this undeserved gift we receive by grace.

I’m Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for Your abundant and amazing grace. I know I don’t deserve any good thing from You, and I’m so grateful You’ve shown me grace. Please help me better understand Your grace so I live a life of gratitude and thanksgiving for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.