Devotional - May 25, 2022
John 3: 16-17
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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
In the Greek language there are seven words that are translated as love. Fortunately, all are used when describing God's love for us. We need it : ) But, remember, to actually define how love is expressed at any given time is not simple. Last week we dealt with love that is expressed in a diplomatic way. The point being, love is not a mindless act, but instead a mindful act. I have seen so many over the years do things in the name of Christ which they say are expressions of Christian love that are not. When questioned about it, they cite the Bible. It says in the Bible I should do this, so I do it. Why? I don't know why. I do it because the Bible says it. I find it interesting that many who say this, do it at their discretion. Either that, or their Bible is missing a few pages! The text I chose for today has the same root word as last week for love in the Bible, agape. We have glossed over this text a few times before in the previous devotionals, but never stopped and really sought to understand what it means. Usually, John 3:16, is cited by itself, but I like to add verse seventeen, because I think it helps round out the meaning of the text. The term used for love here is often defined as selfless or self sacrificing. Pretty easy to see how it relates to what God did through Jesus on the cross. But, if folks are not aware of the backstory of the cross, they often get the wrong impression of this kind of love. They will do things to their own detriment, in some cases being catastrophic, thinking they are following Jesus' example. One of the worst cases entails abuse, especially when the abuser tells the abusee they have to forgive them because that is what Jesus would do (Mt 18: 21-22). No, that is not an example of this kind of love. God never calls anyone to suffer abuse as an act of love. In short, God made a covenant, a blood covenant, with Abraham (Gen 15: 9-21). There are two things we need to know about this covenant in regard to today's topic. One, God covers Abram's half of the covenant by passing through the stream of blood twice, once for God, once for the people of God beginning with Abram. Two, God is omniscient, so God knew Abram would break the covenant. When Jesus dies on the cross, the blood covenant is paid, and through Jesus Christ the invitation is made to all to enter into the new covenant (Mt 26: 27-28) with God. When we say selfless or self- sacrificing it implies there is no-self left when the act is complete, or the self was never in play from the beginning. Does that sound anything like what God did for us? In fact, it is the exact opposite. God is very much alive and fully involved, and present, from beginning onward. The text makes it clear that God's plan for salvation is an intentional act of revelation, allowing us to better understand the character of God. God is faithful to God's word and promise and God understands us. Verse seventeen compliments verse sixteen because it falls in line with the prophecies about the Messiah and the Name God chose, being Jesus (Mt 1:21), meaning YHWH Saves/Savior. God has only chosen two names, I AM and I AM your Savior. Salvation is an act of love. In the context we are dealing with, better examples for being selfless or self-sacrificing are being selfish, self absorbed, or narcissistic. Can you imagine how things would be if God were selfish? Well, listen to some who talk about God. What they describe is that very thing. God is a, my way or the highway, God. Funny how they never see themselves as being on the highway... Another word that can be used to describe this kind of love is unconditional. God loves you. Granted, you are not perfect and you never will be, but you are deeply loved by the Almighty! What a privilege it has been to see the transformation that makes in a person's life when they fully accept and live in that love. Their burden is relieved. They humbly accept the past, live in the present, and do not fear the future (1 John 4: 17-19). I said, "accept" because to claim one's place with God means you have to accept it like a gift, because it is a gift (John 4:10 and Emphesian 2:8). You'd think that would make it easy, not so. In fact, we are prone to reject it for any number of reasons. One thing to notice when doing so is the change in your spirit. When you accept the gift, you are at peace, regardless of the situation. When rejected, you are in conflict. It's not quite that simple, I know, but it makes the point. When we accept the gift of God, our walk reflects it.
Pray with me..., Loving God, help us, as we continue to grow and learn about the gift You gave us. How to accept it, fully, and live by it. Be with our loved one's, bless them in accordance with their needs. And, yes Lord, bless our church, that we may be the people You need us to be, in Jesus name, Amen.
God's peace,
Pastor Brian
