Behold What Manner of Love!

When I look carefully at the diamonds in my wedding band, a random rainbow of color gleams from each stone.  As the light passes through the gems, light is reflected in a board spectrum of beautiful color.  Each facet of the diamond is a tiny window to amazing beauty.  In a similar but grander way, when we take time to look upon the character of God as revealed in His Word God's beauty is revealed to our eyes and hearts.  The indescribable grandeur of God's holiness, mercy, faithfulness, and grace leaves us powerless to do anything but thank and praise Him.

Lately for me the facet of God's character which has come into more clear focus is God's love.  The first part of 1 John 3:1 reads, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!"  I believe we do well to do the first thing:  "Behold!"  We ought to consider, understand, and seek to know what manner of love God has lavished upon us.  To think quickly or in passing is not beholding:  it is not only to engage the eyes but the heart.  When Pilate brought Christ after being scourged before the angry mob wearing the crown of thorns and purple robe the governor said, "Behold the man!"  How people must have stared into that beaten, bloodied, suffering, unrecognizable face!  People no doubt cringed at the sight.  But they still looked upon Him:  God made flesh came as a suffering servant to seek and save the lost, not willing any should perish.  As Jesus walked in obedience to the Father, why would He suffer so?  Because of love for His Father and us.

The only way man could be redeemed and have his sins atoned for was by the precious shed blood of the righteous Lamb of God.  God has bestowed such love upon us at His own expense:  Jesus endured the shame, humiliation, and suffered as a sinner yet without sin, and the Father endured the sacrifice of His only begotten Son without intervention so we might be called children of God.  Romans 5:6-10 reads, "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. ¹⁰ For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."  Jesus rose from the dead, proving His power over sin, Satan, the flesh, and death.  In one moment Christ revealed love of such potency and magnitude that for eternity we will be praising Him.

The willing sacrifice of Christ, though monumental, is merely a gleaming facet of the great love He has towards all people.  His active, eternal love is constantly pursuing and seeking acceptance from all.  Love so great demands awe-inspired praise, worship, and eternal adoration.  We are only mindful of the smallest amounts of God's love and grace:  how much deeper it reaches!  Behold God's love for you today with renewed enthusiasm and appreciation.  John 3:16 says, "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."  How wonderful that we rebels have obtained by God's mercy and grace Living Water from the Rock of Salvation and live forever as sons of the Most High!  Behold such love in wonder and reverence!