Tuesday, April 16, 2013

The Wonder of God’s Love


Coming out from an important celebration for all Christians everywhere, i.e., the Easter season, it was important to take some time to reflect on its significance to all of us. John 3:16 clearly stated the reason for this season:
"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)
Jesus’ coming was an undeniable evidence of God’s love manifested towards humanity. The greatest love story ever told was fulfilled not just in words but also when Jesus came on earth from heaven.

Jesus’ coming was foretold after Adam and Eve sinned through disobedience of God’s command not to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil at the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15). For it to happen, God waited for the right time to send Jesus as the fulfillment of this promise (Galatians 4:4). It is also because; God could not bear to lose the crown jewel of His creation to the enemy, the devil (Luke 4:5-6) that He fashioned by His own hands (Psalms 139:13-14). And though He could have forsaken man because of its offense against Him and leave them to its consequences, He could not and instead send His one and only begotten Son. Thus, God sent Jesus from Heaven to earth to become like one of us not just to show the way back but to become the “…only Way, the Truth, and the Life towards God.”

This was agape love in action and God's manifestation of love. What does agape love means? It is seeking the welfare and betterment of another regardless of how we feel but most importantly, agape does not have the primary meaning of feelings or affection. To understand it clearly, somebody said, 
“Love ever gives, forgives, outlives; And ever stands with open hands; And while it lives, it gives, For this is love's prerogative
 To give, and give, and give.”
That’s why, when you ask God how much He loves us, He will stretch out His hands and show us the prints of His crucifixion as a proof of His eternal love for us.

Here’s a story to illustrate God’s amazing love for us as observed by a father: Our little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and he handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said:
       For cutting the grass $5.00
      For cleaning up my room this week $1.00
                  For going to the store for you $.50
                  Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping $.25
                  Taking out the garbage $1.00
                  For getting a good report card $5.00
                  For cleaning up and raking the yard $2.00
                  Total owed: $14.75
Well, I'll tell you, his mother looked at him standing there expectantly,  and boy, could I see the memories flashing through her mind. So she  picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is   what she wrote:
For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me, No Charge.
For all the nights that I've sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you, No Charge.
For all the trying times, and all the tears that you've caused through the years, there's No Charge.
When you add it all up, the cost of my love is No Charge.
For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead, No Charge.
For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose, there's No Charge, Son.
And when you add it all up, the full cost of real love is No Charge.
Well, friends, when our son finished reading what his mother had written, there were great big old   tears in his eyes, and he looked straight up at his mother and said, "Mom, I sure do love you." And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote: "PAID IN FULL."

The wonder of God’s love was summarized in this: 
"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool (Isaiah 1:8 ESV). 
In this season, let’s seek God and reflect on His love manifested through Jesus Christ at the cross of Calvary. Always remember that when He was hanging on the cross, He was thinking about our freedom and redemption from the power of sin, satan and death. Thank God for His wonderful love for us!

Let’s talk again!