Good Afternoon.
The more I read scripture, the more I am reminded of how much the Lord still has to reveal to me – in His time. Today we have moved further into the third chapter of John, but I want to return to the 16th verse one more time before moving ahead in the chapter. I have spent a lot of my life focused on the second half of verse 16. Like many of you I learned to memorize it in the regal words of the Kings James Bible: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
“…that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
What greater approach/avoidance rationale could there be for embracing the Christian faith.” “Believe” equals “everlasting life.” Presumably “not to believe” equals death! We spend so much time focusing on what it means FOR US. It’s not about us. It’s about the incomprehensible scope of God’s love: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son….”
Forget approach/avoidance theology! This isn’t about us. It’s about a God whose love for us is so great that God sacrificed His most precious Son. Is there any greater reason than that to lift up our hands and raise our voices and give God thanks and praise with every ounce of our being?
Just for as moment forget about what God’s action has done for you and simply think about what God has done. In today’s reading in Acts 5, Peter gives us an incredible testimony, one so great that he couldn’t stop saying it even in the face of death: “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, so that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
It’s not about us. It’s about what God has done. When we take our fear out of the equation; when we think only about how great a love it is that God has shown to us; then we can truly sing with the Psalmist:
“O come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
“O come, let us worship and bow down,
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand. “ [Psalm 95]
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
“O come, let us worship and bow down,
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand. “ [Psalm 95]
Prayer: Dear Lord, living God, Who has loved us so much more than we can comprehend, accept our lives committed to Your will as a token response to that love. Hear our songs of praise. Accept our meager gifts and turn them to the service of Your Gospel message. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
Today’s readings are Judges 13:1-15; Acts 5:27-42; John 3:22-36; Psalm 97, 99, 100,
94 & 95.
Accept the blessing: You are God’s beloved!
Pastor Jim
Comments
Post a Comment