Friday, May 3, 2013

GOD’S AMAZING UNCONDITIONAL LOVE


                There is nothing quite like the unconditional love of a parent for their child. When I was growing up, I was rather accident prone. No, that is an understatement. I was very accident prone. Stories about my misadventures are legendary in my family. When I did something dumb, my parents didn't reject me. They extended unconditional love toward me. They bound up my wounds and helped me clean up my mess. They did this not because I deserved it, but because I am their child.

                As a follower of Christ, I am a child of God. Not in some universal, generic sense. I am a loved, valued, embraced and forgiven son of my Father in Heaven. That is an amazing thought. The Apostle John, who was the closest disciple to Jesus, never quite got over the amazing truth that we are God’s children. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1 (NIV)

                My parents have loved me all of my life. I was physically born into their family. They claimed me from day one. (What were they thinking?) But it is different with my Heavenly Father. I wasn't born physically into His family. In fact, I was born on the wrong side of the spiritual tracks. I was born in the enemy camp. I was born into a life of rebellion against God. Yet, he still loved me! That is truly amazing.

                Paul puts our situation into perspective when he wrote to the believers in Rome.  You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8 (NIV) There are three concepts that stand out for me from this passage.

                God’s love is timely. At just the right time He sent Jesus into the world. Jesus came at a time in human history when people were ready for a Savior. Although there was relative peace under the rule of Rome, there was a longing in people’s hearts for something more significant. At just the right time Jesus came into the world.

                And at just the right time Jesus came into my life. I grew up in a Christian home and made a commitment to Christ when I was very young. But when I was 13 I really encountered Christ in a life transforming way. It was at a time in my life when I was unsure about my future. Jesus met me and gave me the assurance that I belonged to the family of God.

                God’s love is extraordinary. He didn't wait for humanity to get it right. He didn't wait for us to clean up our mess before he extended His hand. No, while we were still mired in our sin and rebellion, Jesus came and died for us. In no way do you deserve God’s love. In no way can we earn God’s love. God still extends His love to us, in spite of our rebellion. That is called grace, and it is amazing.

                As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.  All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:1-10 (NIV)

                God’s love is intentional. God had a plan from before the beginning of creation. His plan all along was to love us, so He created us in His image. Our sin twisted and distorted that image. God sent Jesus to reclaim us and to restore His image in us. God has not given up on us. He continues to extend His love to all who will receive it.

                There is an old hymn that begins with these words. “I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene. And wonder how He could love me, a sinner condemned unclean.” When I contemplate the love that God has shown to me through Christ Jesus, I stand amazed.

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