“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Saviour] shall not perish, but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 (AMP)
In Genesis 3, the first act of rebellion by man happened as it was initiated by Satan who rebelled in heaven and was chased out of it and this act of rebellion against God also resulted in the man being chased out of the Garden planted Eastward of Eden, and in spiritual implication, put an enmity between God and man. It was a terrible act that had devastating consequences that man can never remedy no matter how hard he tries. And what would become of the human race and the earth that God had created if man, the main character in God’s creation, is separated from his Source?
God is man’s Source, and living while alienated from Him will be a herculean task, for it is in Him man lives, moves and have his being. What must be done? God is the only One who has the power, wisdom, and capacity to bring man back to Himself in reconciliation but there needs to be something or someone that must be given for that reconciliation to happen and that will pay for the redemption of man so that the consequences of his rebellion might be remedied. God loves man and all He created but He abhors the wickedness that became man’s life after the Fall.
And then it happened that God, wanting to show His love to the world and the humanity He had created, GAVE His One and only begotten Son to the world to die for the sins of the world for without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. Forgiveness of sins can only be truly attained by the shedding of the blood of the sinless. In the Old Testament, the blood of lambs, goats and other animals could not totally atone for the sins of man and for this reason, a permanent and an everlasting solution to the problem was sought.
God is the greatest giver in that He gave Jesus Christ, His Only begotten Son to the undeserving world in order that it might be saved. Logically, it was supposed to be man that would look for a way to return to God because he was the one who disobeyed the instructions of God and fell short but yet, it was God Himself that sought for the solution that would save man from his depravity and sin. What a love! There is no solution that man would originate that would suffice, no matter hard he tried.
God gave man the means to be saved because of the love He has for the world and how that He doesn’t want man to perish. This is love that goes over and beyond what any human can think of. The love of God for humanity is so great that it is yet unmatched by any act of love humanity can show. Having learned this from God, it is therefore important that you being a believer should be making decisions that daily appreciate this love of God for it is incomprehensible. Appreciate this love always by the way you live. Honour God by your life and all that you have.
Reflections: What does the love of God mean to me? In what practical ways can I live to appreciate this love and live worthy of it?
Confession: I am God’s delight and I bring delight to His heart by the way I live. I live in appreciation of God’s love daily and I live worthy of His love for me. I no longer live in rebellion nor in contradiction to His will for my life.
Related Scripture: 1 John 4:7-19
Bible Reading: John 5
