🌿BREATHE TRUTH🌿
God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love–not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. —1 John 4:9-10
🌿LIVE THE REAL TRUTH🌿
At church this weekend, I picked up my youngest son from Kids Worship. As we exit, a volunteer stands next to an oversized tote with its contents hidden from view. She inquires if my son has his note sheet, a paper of the sermon notes he took. He shakes his head. His answer startles me because this is my “sit in the front row, sing all out, save all notes” child. Did a change occur in him that I had missed? Is his spiritual walk on a decline? So I gently asked him if he jotted down his notes. “Yes, mom.” Then why didn’t he show it to the volunteer?
“I didn’t need any candy.”
Two types of motivations exist in life. The intrinsic ones are simply birthed from our inner desire to accomplish an endeavor, while the extrinsic ones require an outer reward. Like acquiring compensation for rendering chores, receiving good grades, or reaching the finish line. But no recompense is needed with God. Candy, no. The saving of our souls is sweet enough.
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God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world that we might have eternal life through Him.
In the spiritual realm, God is not in the business of extending external benefits for godly endeavors. Before Jesus comes into our life, we have never experienced unconditional love. But as we receive, we learn to respond in love and taste a bit of His eternal life, because He first loves us. We love God in reply to His love for us, not for any worldly gain.
Any doubt of how much God loves us is answered in His Word, through His living Word, Jesus Christ. God delivers His love through the earth-shaking, but humble arrival of the birth of His Son. Jesus Immanuel is God’s love letter to us, eternally penned with a lover’s confession: I.came.for.you.
God reveals the measureless depth, matchless width, and miraculous breadth of His love by moving His Son closer to us, and moving heaven and earth to meet us where we are.
If you are waring, He will meet you in your conflicts.
If you are wandering, He will meet you in your crossroads.
If you are worrying, He will meet you in your crisis.
If you are weeping, He will meet you in your calamity.
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This is real love–not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
Would you leave heaven to live in a hovel? Would you part paradise to be in a prison? Would you switch identities to become a servant? On the cross, Jesus accepts the world’s humiliation and hostility in our place. He acquires the penalty and punishment for our wrongs. He answers the criticism and condemnation of our adversary. This is what Jesus endures for you and I.
Jesus gives up everything so you can have everything in Christ. Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Jesus departs from heaven so you can have a place in heaven. Christ in you, the home of glory.
Jesus stakes your sins upon Himself so you can be saved from yourself. Christ in you, the heart of glory.
God exchanges His Son’s life for your salvation. No other story has been written like this before. This is the greatest love story ever. This is the greatest love ever. This.is.real.love.
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©️2019 Jordan Su