By Pastor Bob Lawrenz
We read a familiar verse in the New Testament that speaks of God’s love for His Creation: John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That’s God’s sacrifice for us, because He loves us.
Could we go to such an extreme? Could our love for one be set aside so others could be saved? How could we possibly choose?! Yet, that’s exactly what God did for our sakes, and for His own glory. And, God knew just how He would make this incredible sacrifice. Create a perfect embryo and have it miraculously placed in a nice young girl, that she might nurture it, and raise it to adulthood as His only earth-born Son. As her son, the child would experience the joys and pains of life; He would be one of us. As His begotten Son, the Child would be imbued with knowledge and abilities far beyond what was normal for a human. He would teach, and heal, and possess the uncanny ability to know what was coming in the future. That the Word of God was willing to come to Bethlehem so He could go to Calvary 30-some years later is more than we can comprehend. His trial would be unfair. The witnesses against Him would be liars. His execution on a cross would be excruciatingly painful, and “by His stripes we would be healed.”
There is nothing too difficult for God; He had a plan all along. We find that the Father has gone to great lengths to supply our need(s) indicates a jealous love towards us. He does not want His own creation worshiping someone or something that had nothing to do with our creation. Credit should go to Whom is due!
He asks us to be zealous in returning our love to Him. Zealous? Jealous? There is a correlation between the two. “We love Him because He first loved us.” Our Loving God is jealous for our love, as He supplies all our need(s).
“For thou shalt worship no other god,
for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
Exodus 24:14
