Sunday, March 18, 2012

March 19, 2012

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."  I John 4:9-11

How do you know that God loves you? What indication do you have? What evidence can you point to? What proof can be offered?

You know because He showed His love.

He showed His love by giving the best that He had.
Think about it! God has a lot of good things! In fact, EVERYTHING God has is good! He could have chosen His second or third best option and it still would have been amazingly good! BUT God is love and love doesn't give second best!

So, God proved how much He loved us by giving us the one thing He loved the most - His Son!

And Jesus came from the Father to prove how much He loves us by giving up the glory and security of Heaven to come to earth as a man to die for our sins. Why would He do that? Why would he subject Himself to so much shame and suffering and offer Himself up to die on a cross? Only one reason - LOVE - CRAZY LOVE!

So, we know we can be confident about the love God has for us because we know that He gave His best in order to give you and me a chance to become our best! In willingly offering His Son for you He is saying, "I love you as much as I live Him!" Wow!

And Jesus demonstrated how real and vast His love is for you by willfully leaving heaven and coming to earth for one reason - to die a sacrifical substitutionary death on the cross for you and for me!

For any honest and clear-thinking person there can be no doubt as to the love of God for you! God gave His best to demonstrate His Crazy Love! And Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth as a man and dwelt among us to show us what love looks like and died on the cross to make that love available to us!

So, in light of these powerful demonstrations of God's love and of Christ's love how do you think God would expect you to show your love for Him? What should you be prepared to do in order to show your love for Him?

Can you do that with left-overs? Can you do that with second-best? Will God accept that from you? Should He?