For God so loved . . .

The author of today’s devotions makes a thought-provoking observation. She imagines a courtroom in which the accused stands before a judge thinking about all that could happen. Then she says that the thoughts of the man are irrelevant; only what the judge thinks is important. The accused is totally at the mercy (or not) of the judge.

Then she applies this thought to our relationship with God. She says, “The only vital thing in our relation with the Lord is not what our feelings toward Him are but what His feelings toward us are.”

My first thought was this passage:

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31–39)

The devotional writer calls her illustration about the importance of the judge’s thoughts as a ‘self-evident fact’ — and as I read through the above passage, it is so logical and plain that God loves me that I wonder why I would ever doubt it. He sent Jesus to die for me. Jesus lives forever to intercede for me. Nothing can change the love of God for me, even if persecutors put me to death I will forever be with the Lord who loves me. Nothing can change that.

Other verses come to mind:

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (Psalm 118:6)
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1 John 2:1)
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Think of the accused standing before a judge and fearing that the maximum sentence will be given to him. He has no idea that the judge is merciful, nor that someone else, even the judge’s own son, has already offered to take his place and serve his sentence, even the death penalty for his crimes. This is what the Judge, our Holy God, has done. He loves us so much that He sent His Son to take our place and set us free.

PRAY: Lord Jesus, so easily I forget that You totally love me, and that Your love is enough. Forgive my doubts and my memory lapses. Fill me with that love, not just to reassure me but that I will love and always obey You, and also love others with that same kind of unchanging, sacrificial love that You pour out on me.

The wonder of Jesus coming here . . .

 

As Christmas draws near, thoughts of what happened in that manger more than two thousand years ago often come to mind. Think of it: God became a man, beginning His time here as a newborn baby. Not everyone has the same concept of God yet His Word says this of Him:

You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end. (Hebrews 1:10–12)

He is Creator and has no beginning or end. He always is and will never change or vanish. Even as I try to wrap my puny mind at those thoughts, the fact of His coming here to be like us — yet not like us — is staggering. This baby was not a created being. He existed before the beginning of the world . . .

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1–3)

God spoke and His Word, Jesus, laid the foundation of the earth and created the heavens. In the beginning implies that He existed before the beginning as the Scriptures say — He is eternal, and His Word is eternal, God who never changes, yet He appeared here, as a baby, an historical fact. Amazing!

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) He did not remain a babe, yet who He is and what He does never changes. The world changes. Our lives endure constant changes. Yet this One who created us is immutable, always the same, always God and always alive to intercede for us.

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1 John 2:1)

Think of it — who or what can condemn those who have received Him as their Savior? “Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34)

From birth to death on this planet was a brief time for this baby who grew to be a man and yet He lives forever, not only as our Savior but also as our Sustainer. Our salvation is complete and secure for as long as He lives — and He lives eternally! I stand amazed and humbled at thoughts of this Babe who is God who came to rescue me from sin.

Yes, someday this world will be changed. The Bible says:

The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:14–17)

And Jesus answers this cry with a cry of His own, not the cry of a babe in a manger but the cry of One who died that we might live when He called out, “It is finished.” He secured God’s total forgiveness for those who believe in Him.

Even though the world as we know it will end, Jesus does not end. He will create a new heaven and a new earth and all who love His appearing will be like Him.

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:2–3)

PRAY: It seems that the closer that day comes (meaning Your return or the end of my life here) the more excited I am about Christmas and about Your appearance, first as a tiny child, then as a grown man and my Savior. What a wonder that You should come, that You should suffer and die that I can live forever with You. Thank You for being the same always, and for your unchanging plan to save and keep Your followers forever.

PONDER: Read 2 Peter 3 and think how I can remind scoffers that Jesus keeps His promises and will come again. He even predicted that they would scoff! Urge them to pray for grace that they might be ready for life rather than judgment and look forward to His return.