Grace For The Journey

  Today is Valentine’s Day; regardless of where this blog finds you – whether you are in the midst of a storybook romance or dealing with no romance in your life at this time – it seems like a good time to celebrate a heavenly love that “so loved” you.  The inspired pen of John could find no better way to describe this unimaginable love that created you, knows you, sought you, bought you, and seeks you than to use the word “so!”  The Bible says in John 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 everlasting life.” 

Decades ago, blues icon BB King sang this phrase in one of his songs, “Nobody loves me but my mother . . . and she could be jivin’ me too.”  Think of the implication of that statement.

Have you ever wondered just how loved you really are?

I want you to consider the truth that is presented in today’s blog and let it sink into your heart – not just on Valentine’s Day, but every day throughout the coming year.

Jesus did not come because of sin; He came because of love.  Sin happened long before Adam and Eve were created.  Adam and Eve were the first human sinners, but there was a sinful creature lurking in the Garden of Eden who had embraced a wicked, depraved, and fallen condition long before God breathed life into the first two human beings.

Let’s take a look at the prophet Isaiah’s account:

“How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High!”  (Isaiah 14:12-14)

Satan’s grandiose ambitions ended very badly!  The Lord Jesus told His disciples, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18).

Adam and Eve followed the voice of the Serpent (Satan, the fallen angel) and thumbed their noses at God, just as Satan did.  They centered their entire existence on the same “I” that inflamed the heart of Lucifer.  Notice that this “I” is in the middle of both SIN and PRIDE!  Satan was filled with sinful pride, and he convinced Adam and Eve to focus on “I” rather than the great “I AM.”

Take a look at Satan’s five ‘I WILLS,” as recorded by Isaiah:

• I WILL ascend to the heavens.
• I WILL raise my throne above the stars of God.
• I WILL sit enthroned on the mount of assembly.
• I WILL ascend above the tops of the clouds.
• I WILL make myself like the Most High.

For Lucifer, it was not enough

To be in the presence of God;

He coveted the position of God.

For Adam and Eve, it was not enough for them to be made in the image of God; they too wanted to be in the position of God.  And all mankind has been pursuing that same awful ambition ever since.

So if sin already existed before men and women were created, and God did not go after Satan, the first sinner, to redeem him, there had to be something else besides sin that motivated God to pursue those first two human rebels.  And that motivation, dear reader, was the “special love,” the “so loved” love that God has for humanity . . . the special love He has for you!  For God “so loved” you that He sent His Son to die on a cross so that you would never die, but have eternal life.

God could have pursued the fallen angels, but He did not.  He chose instead to pursue fallen humanity and to send His precious Son to redeem those who were His special image-bearers (Genesis 1:26).

This Gospel truth in all its glory

Makes it crystal clear

That God’s love for us is unparalleled.

The love of God has for you in Jesus Christ is

As measureless as it is fathomless;

Truly, it cannot be explained.

Paul said the love God has for us in Christ “surpasses knowledge,” and yet he prayed that we would be given the supernatural power “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:18-19).

The best we can do is simply acknowledge that we are “so loved” and receive that love by faith and respond to the One who showers it upon us with a heart of adoring gratitude – not only daily, but moment by moment.

Let’s focus upon His love

On this Valentine’s Day

And Every Day!

This is God Word … This is Grace for your Journey …

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

 Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”