There was a song I remember from childhood which began with the exhortation found in 1 John 3:1: "Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us, that we should be called the sons of God." Being adopted by God as His own child is special because it means He has chosen us. My son Abel is being graded for cricket this weekend, and will be placed upon a team. His technique, skills, and overall fitness will decide whether he is on the upper or lower end of the selection. It's amazing to think that God chose us while we were yet sinners and are only a helpless liability - the kind of ones who aren't picked as much as hang around until the end. Yet God has set His love upon us sinners, and demonstrated it by sending His own Son Jesus Christ to suffer and die so we might live through faith in Him.
When I played Little League way back when, it was almost a guarantee the son of the coach would play a vast majority of the innings in the field, have plenty of "at bats," and have opportunities to play the "best" positions. By virtue of being a coach, it is likely (from my experience) his child had been coached and supplied with knowledge, equipment, and years of practice to fill coveted roles suitably. Put it this way: either the son of the coach was an upper echelon player, or he was treated as one! While there are no doubt exceptions to my experience, I share this as a point of contrast concerning how God accepts all who come to Him in faith. God sought us out when we were lost, dead in sins, and facing God's justice for crimes committed against Him. He paid the price so we could be forgiven and set free, and then invites us to be part of His family and live with Him forever in heaven! How great and good is God!
This morning in prayer, Jude 1:20-21 was brought to mind: "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." Such a display of love through Christ Jesus ought to build our faith in Him. Those who love and trust Him will pray to God, abiding in the love of God. Our eyes can daily seek out instances of "the mercy of our LORD Jesus Christ." Hasn't God been merciful, showing us loving-kindness when we deserved hell? I still deserve hell, but God loves me still. Micah 6:8 says, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" This is no drudgery or restrictive duty, but a joyous privilege: to do what pleases God, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our Saviour.
There is no "riding the pine" with our Saviour (that means being on the bench, out of the game). God has chosen us, set His love upon us, and given us His mercy so we can be "in the game" through the power of the Holy Spirit. We can all be all God intended us to be when He created us in our mother's wombs and prepared good works beforehand for us to enter into (Eph. 2:8-10). We need not fall short of our potential Satan would love to rob us of, for God works in us both to will and do for His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). Hasn't God been merciful to you? Remember to thank Him today and share your joy with others so He will be praised and exalted.
When I played Little League way back when, it was almost a guarantee the son of the coach would play a vast majority of the innings in the field, have plenty of "at bats," and have opportunities to play the "best" positions. By virtue of being a coach, it is likely (from my experience) his child had been coached and supplied with knowledge, equipment, and years of practice to fill coveted roles suitably. Put it this way: either the son of the coach was an upper echelon player, or he was treated as one! While there are no doubt exceptions to my experience, I share this as a point of contrast concerning how God accepts all who come to Him in faith. God sought us out when we were lost, dead in sins, and facing God's justice for crimes committed against Him. He paid the price so we could be forgiven and set free, and then invites us to be part of His family and live with Him forever in heaven! How great and good is God!
This morning in prayer, Jude 1:20-21 was brought to mind: "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." Such a display of love through Christ Jesus ought to build our faith in Him. Those who love and trust Him will pray to God, abiding in the love of God. Our eyes can daily seek out instances of "the mercy of our LORD Jesus Christ." Hasn't God been merciful, showing us loving-kindness when we deserved hell? I still deserve hell, but God loves me still. Micah 6:8 says, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" This is no drudgery or restrictive duty, but a joyous privilege: to do what pleases God, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our Saviour.
There is no "riding the pine" with our Saviour (that means being on the bench, out of the game). God has chosen us, set His love upon us, and given us His mercy so we can be "in the game" through the power of the Holy Spirit. We can all be all God intended us to be when He created us in our mother's wombs and prepared good works beforehand for us to enter into (Eph. 2:8-10). We need not fall short of our potential Satan would love to rob us of, for God works in us both to will and do for His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). Hasn't God been merciful to you? Remember to thank Him today and share your joy with others so He will be praised and exalted.
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