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I look at what God has done for us and am amazed. It really is beyond my ability to totally understand his love for us in light of how badly we treat him. If you were him, knowing yourself like you do, would you have come back to save you? What about the other people you know, would you have come back to save them?
There has to be a special motivation for someone to come back for something, doesn't there? That's the reason rental places require deposits; to insure you will return. It's kind of like this little story: A lady writes, "I accompanied my husband when he went to get a haircut. Reading a magazine, I found a hairstyle I liked for myself, and I asked the receptionist if I could take the magazine next door to make a copy of the photo. "Leave some ID, a driver's license or a credit card," she said. "But my husband is here getting a haircut," I explained. "Yes," she replied. "But I need something you'll come back for."
Would you come back for something (or someone) which you didn't value? John tells us that God loved the world so much he sent his own son back for us. (John 3:16). Why? Because he loved us even when there was nothing about us to love! Paul wrote in Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (NIV)
What's the point? Often to those in the world we have no value, they wouldn't give anything of themselves to help us or save us. Most would surely refuse to die so that we could go on living, but God did just that!
Why would someone come back for their husband (or wife)? Would you return because of obligation? Perhaps you would return because of your investment in time and effort to get them to love you? Perhaps you would return just for love's sake.
God returned for all of those reasons and more that we can comprehend! He loved and continues to love us even when we are unlovable, ungodly and ugly in spirit. Listen to the words of John again from John 3:16, "For 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." (NIV)
It's interesting that in the same chapter in verse 36 God adds: "And all who believe in God's Son have eternal life. Those who don't obey the Son will never experience eternal life, but the wrath of God remains upon them." He ties belief and obedience together in this verse, which brings us to the question once again of, "For what (or who) would you come back?
We tend to categorize or set different values on different people (for many different reasons). It is not right, but it seems that doing it is almost inescapable as a human being. Aren't you glad that God didn't do that, that he loves you even knowing the secret sins you have hidden from others in your life?
Jesus had something special to say about how he wants us to live with others in John 13:34. Notice his words, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (NIV) I'm still working on it and realize that I still have a lot of growing to do, how about you?
There has to be a special motivation for someone to come back for something, doesn't there? That's the reason rental places require deposits; to insure you will return. It's kind of like this little story: A lady writes, "I accompanied my husband when he went to get a haircut. Reading a magazine, I found a hairstyle I liked for myself, and I asked the receptionist if I could take the magazine next door to make a copy of the photo. "Leave some ID, a driver's license or a credit card," she said. "But my husband is here getting a haircut," I explained. "Yes," she replied. "But I need something you'll come back for."
Would you come back for something (or someone) which you didn't value? John tells us that God loved the world so much he sent his own son back for us. (John 3:16). Why? Because he loved us even when there was nothing about us to love! Paul wrote in Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (NIV)
What's the point? Often to those in the world we have no value, they wouldn't give anything of themselves to help us or save us. Most would surely refuse to die so that we could go on living, but God did just that!
Why would someone come back for their husband (or wife)? Would you return because of obligation? Perhaps you would return because of your investment in time and effort to get them to love you? Perhaps you would return just for love's sake.
God returned for all of those reasons and more that we can comprehend! He loved and continues to love us even when we are unlovable, ungodly and ugly in spirit. Listen to the words of John again from John 3:16, "For 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." (NIV)
It's interesting that in the same chapter in verse 36 God adds: "And all who believe in God's Son have eternal life. Those who don't obey the Son will never experience eternal life, but the wrath of God remains upon them." He ties belief and obedience together in this verse, which brings us to the question once again of, "For what (or who) would you come back?
We tend to categorize or set different values on different people (for many different reasons). It is not right, but it seems that doing it is almost inescapable as a human being. Aren't you glad that God didn't do that, that he loves you even knowing the secret sins you have hidden from others in your life?
Jesus had something special to say about how he wants us to live with others in John 13:34. Notice his words, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (NIV) I'm still working on it and realize that I still have a lot of growing to do, how about you?
MESSAGES FROM THE HEART by Russ Lawson © 2006. All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward).
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