JOHN 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
THEME OF THE DAY: WHO DOES JESUS LOVE? Today’s scripture is the whole message of the Bible in one verse. It captures the substance of the gospel. Granted, we don’t get the particulars of sin, the substitutionary depth of Jesus, and a thorough description of justification by faith. But what we do get is the heart of God who loves His creation, manifests that love in giving of His Son, and tells of the reward of His love.
When it comes to the God who so loved, who are those individuals that are so loved? The Apostle John writes, “the world” and that would be the world of people but allow a godly man of the 19th century, James Smith, to wonderfully expound the who God so loved. This devotion is taken from his popular devotional titled The Daily Remembrancer. He wrote . . .
“And what were the people who He loved? Poor, oppressed, rebellious, stiff-necked, hard-hearted, unworthy creatures. Just such are His people by nature now. Such are we. Yet He loves us; pities us; and distinguishes us from others around us. He spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all; and with Him He will freely give us all things. Though He has not yet all His people with Him, yet, He has Jesus sitting at His right hand, who is their Representative; the express image and exact likeness of His elect. All the rays of His love center in Him, who is the Head of His body the Church. All the streams of delight empty themselves into Him, and through Him flow down to every believer on earth. As He loveth Jesus, so He loveth us; while He loveth Jesus, He will love us; for Christ and we are one. What is done to us, is done to Him; and what is done to, or bestowed upon Him, as man and Mediator, is done to and bestowed upon us. O glorious mystery of infinite and eternal love! O direct my heart into this love of God!”
Yes, direct our hearts into this love of God! It is what gives life meaning, purpose, and satisfaction. And this love of God? It’s manifested not only on the cross of Christ, but in the attitudes and treatment we receive from Christ. We are loved by a love that “is patient and kind; does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a).
But there is more. We are a people who cannot earn God’s love, merit God’s love, or deserve God’s love. It is freely given based solely on the choice of the One loving, not based on the worthiness of the object, or person loved. That alone is what makes God’s love so amazing. He loves sinners. Great sinners proving He is such a great Savior!
PRAYER. Father, what a debt of love I owe for how great a love I receive!
REFLECTION: The love of Jesus knows no limits in its reach to the vilest of sinners