Everybody's favorite Bible text is John 3:16. Let's look at it again:
(a) "For God so loved ... " That is the Father, ... the "our-Father-which-art-in-
(b) "He so loved that He gave what He gave," did not lend. The Father gave Him to us for eternity; emptied heaven of Him. Gave Him to go to hell, for us.
(c) "His only Son." The Son gave Himself to us. Gave Himself to go to hell, for us.
(d) On His cross He embraced our lot--which is to die the second death. That's what He gave Himself to. As He hung on the cross, He could not see through the portals of the tomb before Him.
(e) It was a total sacrifice of Himself. Our finite minds cannot fully grasp the truth, but we are invited to stretch our minds to comprehend it.
(f) That's what it means to "believe." "BEHOLD the Lamb of God." A long, diligent look. Every day.
(g) It means "let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus ..." (Philippians 2:5ff.).It's emptying our worldly self-centered mind to receive His mind.
(h) To "believe" means to appreciate the length, and breadth, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge--Ephesians 3:14-19.
(i) That calls for a bigger heart than you and I possess.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
------------------------------
