It made him feel small and frightened, knowing that God’s power was infinite and beautiful, that He was truly working to provide for all of his creatures.”
–Bobby Cavazos (The Cowboy From the Wild Horse Desert)
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
–John 3:17 (NKJV)
——————————-
“Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart…filled it, too, with melody that would last forever.”
–Bess Streeter Aldrich
I had put together my notes and was planning on continuing with thoughts on Samson, when I was nudged (by the Holy Spirit and my wife) to focus on the reason for the season–our Savior, Jesus Christ. I will continue with Samson and the Psalms after Christmas which means it may be January. I trust that you have already determined to set your eyes upon the Lord during this time of year. It is a grand time, a wonderful time, and a mysterious time. With that I want to draw your attention to part of that mystery.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
–John 3:16 (NKJV)
“For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.” (Amplified)
This is one of, if not the most familiar verse in the Bible. This is Christmas–God giving the gift of His Son. This is part of two great mysteries: the Trinity and the Incarnation. But I want to concentrate on one word. “Loved.” This word, agape, has tremendous meaning. It denotes tremendous passion, and, in fact, our word “agony” comes from this same root word. Love and agony? Think of the verse above, and let me paraphrase: “God so agonized over the world.” Can you picture the agony of God as He looked down upon this sinful world? His love/agony over mankind needed a solution, hence, the sacrifice of His Son.
When we look at the cross and the crucifixion we see tremendous physical and emotional agony. There was also something happening in the spiritual world, a spiritual agony of sorts, but it started eons before when God loved the world… So agonized in His love that He was willing for His Son to die to save mankind from their sins and give them life eternal. Can you imagine what He sees today with those being offered so great a Gift and yet rejecting it? “I gave My Son for you, don’t turn aside. I have a great life for you, accept this Gift.” My thoughts entirely, but…
At the beginning of this Christmas season, look at the Gift of God’s infinite love. How could He love so much? I cannot explain, but He gave a gift in the form of His Son to save this sinful world, and that means you and me. It may not be a carol, but the words of C. Bishop’s hymn come to my mind:
“Such love, such wondrous love,
Such love, such wondrous love,
That God should love a sinner such as I,
How wonderful is love like this!”
——————————-
“Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart…filled it, too, with melody that would last forever.”
–Bess Streeter Aldrich
I had put together my notes and was planning on continuing with thoughts on Samson, when I was nudged (by the Holy Spirit and my wife) to focus on the reason for the season–our Savior, Jesus Christ. I will continue with Samson and the Psalms after Christmas which means it may be January. I trust that you have already determined to set your eyes upon the Lord during this time of year. It is a grand time, a wonderful time, and a mysterious time. With that I want to draw your attention to part of that mystery.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
–John 3:16 (NKJV)
“For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.” (Amplified)
This is one of, if not the most familiar verse in the Bible. This is Christmas–God giving the gift of His Son. This is part of two great mysteries: the Trinity and the Incarnation. But I want to concentrate on one word. “Loved.” This word, agape, has tremendous meaning. It denotes tremendous passion, and, in fact, our word “agony” comes from this same root word. Love and agony? Think of the verse above, and let me paraphrase: “God so agonized over the world.” Can you picture the agony of God as He looked down upon this sinful world? His love/agony over mankind needed a solution, hence, the sacrifice of His Son.
When we look at the cross and the crucifixion we see tremendous physical and emotional agony. There was also something happening in the spiritual world, a spiritual agony of sorts, but it started eons before when God loved the world… So agonized in His love that He was willing for His Son to die to save mankind from their sins and give them life eternal. Can you imagine what He sees today with those being offered so great a Gift and yet rejecting it? “I gave My Son for you, don’t turn aside. I have a great life for you, accept this Gift.” My thoughts entirely, but…
At the beginning of this Christmas season, look at the Gift of God’s infinite love. How could He love so much? I cannot explain, but He gave a gift in the form of His Son to save this sinful world, and that means you and me. It may not be a carol, but the words of C. Bishop’s hymn come to my mind:
“Such love, such wondrous love,
Such love, such wondrous love,
That God should love a sinner such as I,
How wonderful is love like this!”