God's Display of Love, Our Gift of Life; How Do We Treat This Great Gift?

I want to direct your attention to a couple of points that are very important to me, and to God. It's my heart's desire to encourage people in showing them verses in Scripture that reveal God's love for everyone and also to reveal other great promises, such as the power He gives us for right now...to live godly lives and as overcomers in a world full of stress, depression, and despair. It's not about church attendance or any legalistic human traditions. It's about a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ and living out His Word, which leads us into all Truth and understanding. Let's all make God the One we set our heart on and dedicate our affections and life to.......

 

1 John 4:9----in three different translations, all being worded beautifully. The key point I want to focus on is TRUE LIFE. I can speak (or write) volumes about the vast difference between life before accepting Jesus Christ as my Savior and truly surrendering every aspect and area of my life to Him and the magnificent and wondrous TRUE LIFE He gave to me once I called Him my Lord and His Father my Father and God.......So, read 1 John 4:9 here:

1)English Standard Version:

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

2)The Voice:

Because of this, the love of God is a reality among us: God sent His only Son into the world so that we could find true life through Him.

3)Expanded Bible

This is how God ·showed [revealed] his love to us: He sent his one and only Son into the world so that we could have life through him.

First, we see that "this is how God showed (revealed) His love..." or that "His love was made manifest among us". Jesus becoming the man-God or God in the flesh, is the greatest display of His love to mankind. There are so many complex aspects of just this one major event in the history of the world. Jesus living here amongst the filth of this world, leaving behind His heavenly home, and becoming one of us was pretty major. He was like us, yet unlike us, because He was sinless. He proved that He was God not only by the miracles He performed on earth, but in the fact that He could be here just like us, but overcome every temptation to sin and live a blameless life here. But, He invited all people to accept Him and follow Him so that they could enter the Kingdom that he taught about so much while on earth. He wanted everyone to believe Him and accept Him as the Messiah. That didn't happen though; not then and not now. Sure, you may hear or read that there are so many Christians in America now, but truly, that is speaking of all the people who profess to be Christians, not all of the true followers of Christ. Many say they are Christians, but that being more of a title than a true profession of faith. The truth is, people's lives reveal where their heart really is, or what their god really is. For the people who profess to be Christians, who say they love the Lord Jesus Christ, but don't follow His instructions are in direct disobedience to the Lord who sacrificed Himself even unto death for all of us undeserving people to be blessed now and have life for eternity in a perfect heaven, in His presence.

 

I don't know about anyone else, but I find myself perplexed and deeply disturbed by such a light weight people put on this--our salvation. Commonly, you will hear people make comments referring to how they are praying or that God sure is good to them, but they, in no way, live their life for the Lord or even to give Him glory. In fact, most of the time, they pick and choose to whom they even make these comments to--unless, of course, they are in dire circumstances. My problem, though, is not that people are this way--that is only to be expected. My trouble with it is that there are those in this category of "Convenient Christianity" that are involved in churches, in ministry--speaking about God's goodness, but not living it out in their own lives; making a mockery of our faith that we long to reach others with and, even worse, teaching this superficial "Christianity" to our children. Now, here comes my huge issue: Who has taught any person who is in this state or condition that Jesus died for us all and if you will only say that you believe in Him, you can live like a devil and it's okay? No one in their right mind, no one who has ever truly experienced a divine intervention of God and the gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ, would ever reduce that power down to such a cheap commodity that they are entitled to just speak about when it's in their favor for the moment.

 

Friends, think about it. Really put thought into the whole picture. Almost every American has some idea of the suffering of Jesus Christ during the last twelve hours of His life. Most do not truly think about it or meditate upon His torture and death, but they have a general idea--if for no other reason than their viewing of the movie "Passion of the Christ". I've never met a person who told me that they watched that movie and thought it was boring or foolish. No, I went to the theatres and watched it within the first few days of its release and there were people of all walks of life there to see this much anticipated, controversial movie. Not all of them were crying like I was, but they weren't laughing and throwing popcorn either. It was serious. It was violent. It didn't seem right or fair--this kind, innocent man being violently beat and killed. It's more than a story, though. It's more than a movie on the big screen. I like to watch movies about Jesus or any movie inspired by or about Christianity because I like to have a type of visual--a type, I say, because even the best movies about Jesus can't portray the whole reality of His life and, most definitely, His death and resurrection.

 

With all of this being said--yes, I am going somewhere with this--I am saddened, even appalled at times, when I see what picture that man is portraying about the Truth, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Just as people are moved by a major motion picture, they are also deeply impacted by the visual effects they see all around them. Most people learn by experience or by visually seeing. If you are reading this and you are a professing Christian, what does this make you think about? I, personally, catch myself getting upset and snapping at my kids or husband and it immediately grieves me. I'm so remorseful and disappointed with myself at that point because I want to always be a truly good example of abiding in Christ and becoming more like Him. Clearly, this isn't a great concern for a lot of people, a lot of Christians. I thank God that I know Him and He has given me a new heart, with which also came new eyes--spiritual eyes. I pray to only see with those eyes, for those eyes bring more clarity to everything we see or experience. It is only with those spiritual eyes that we can see the Truth in Him and the spiritual things all around us. I could write all day about various things that are missing, abused, or twisted in the messages that are taught in America today about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and salvation--but I would lose you (if I haven't already) right at this sentence.

 

I long to see the day when people go back to understanding the concept of self sacrifice and self discipline. Somewhere along the way the latter words got dropped and it became just "self". There has to be balance in this teaching we commit ourselves to--whether we are actual teachers of the Bible or we are leading by our life's display of the words we confess with our mouths (our example). Yes, God's love, grace, mercy, and goodness is needed to be preached amongst the people who have never known of such things and by hearing they may come to knowledge and then to repentance and salvation. However, if you teach these wonderful attributes of God, even if you add a little about His power and patience, but you don't teach anything about His other attributes, then you teach only part of the Truth. If you lead people to the point where they pray, repent, and receive salvation, but you leave it right there and move on--how does this new believer figure out where to go next. Sure, salvation, in and of itself, brings forth a new creature and there is a new power within the person receiving salvation. I'm a firm believer in that, and from personal experience, I'll add. But, it is then, once salvation has been obtained, a lifelong walk, a personal and moment by moment relationship with the Lord. I know that we are saved by grace and not by any works of our own, but that is not translated to mean that we are saved and nothing good is required of us. Aside from the fact that it is all laid out in the Bible about how we should live as believers, it is more important than just that. It is deeper. Why? Because if you have "truly tasted His goodness" as quoted by the Apostle Peter, you have the desire to please God. Knowing God's Word in addition to knowing Him, you learn what is pleasing to Him and you long to do what is right in His eyes. [2 Corinthians 5:15 says "He died for us so that we will all live, not for ourselves, but for Him who died and rose from the dead."] So, He died so we could have true life through Him, not so we could have an elated experience and then keep living the way we want to--for ourselves. Then: [John 17:16-17 "Like Me, they are not products of this corrupt world order. Immerse them in the Truth, the Truth Your voice speaks."] Now, we are no  longer products of this evil, corrupt world, but He wants us to be immersed in all Truth--which comes by the Word of God and our Guide, the Holy Spirit, who gives us the ability to understand and apply God's Word in our lives.

 

Here is my final verse that I will share, though there are so many that need to be pointed out. This is a very important one. I encourage you to really think about what it is saying--it's pretty clear, not a hidden message amongst a mysterious ancient language.... [1 John 2:5-6 "This is how we know we are in Him [Jesus]: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did"]

 

I have never been so overjoyed as these past couple years when I have truly surrendered my life to the Lord. With no doubts about it, studying His Word and spending a lot of time alone with Him and seeking His will and Truth has kept me growing, kept me strong through terrible trials, and caused my heart to be passionate for Him. He has revealed Himself to me through His Word and the love I have for Him has made it a joy, not just a duty, to pursue holiness. [2 Peter 1:3 "In Christ Jesus He has given you all things that pertain to life and godliness"] God does not hold back from us anything we need in order to live a godly life. We hold ourselves back by not sacrificing time in our personal lives to set aside for Him. Today, I don't know how I survived day to day prior to living life abiding in Christ. I turned all my affections towards Him and away from the former, worldly things I was drawn to. God loved me so much that He not only sent His Son to suffer and die so that a person as undeserving as me could see His face in our eternal home, but He also gave me, and every true believer, power through the Holy Spirit to live in this world as ambassadors of Christ, living like Christ in character. He makes us victorious conquerors. After all He has done because of His great love, I can't help myself, I just want to know Him more and more. If I learn, I want to learn of Him. I want Him center of my life.

 

Christ loved so greatly. He loved us even to His torture and death on a cursed cross. He suffered immensely for me and everyone else in the world. Don't just think with our limited, finite wisdom that this same beautiful, lover of our souls only wants you to say that you believe in His existence. He wants you. He wants you to sacrifice your life for Him. That is why it is often said we must "die to self ", "crucify our flesh", and many other references to us sacrificing our natural, worldly instincts that are enmity to God and living in His Truth, abiding in Christ daily.

 

I pray that you will see the beauty of God revealing and displaying His great love for us by giving us true life through the ultimate sacrifice of His Son. It is beyond our grandest thoughts. It's awesome and incomprehensible. Grasp it and cling to this Truth. Never take for granted the greatest act of love ever--that was for your benefit, to give you life eternally.

 

1 Corinthians 2:2 "I have determined to know nothing except this: Jesus Christ (His person) and Him crucified (His work)."

 

Determine in your hearts to focus on all of Jesus Christ and to, more than anything, seek to know Him more and more......

 

"My conscience is captive to the Word of God."---- Martin Luther

 

Thank you for hanging in there and reading this. I ask that you would let me know you read it, leave some feedback. I'm trying to get an idea of how many people read my blog posts and also what the topics of interest are. I appreciate your time and interest!