The Word — God gave
Published 9:00 am Sunday, February 20, 2022
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When my son was four years old, I was getting him ready for bed. Sean looked at me and said, “Mommy would you snuggy me?” Well, of course as a mother my heart melted and yes, I did! We climbed into bed. Snuggled in the covers and said our prayers. Sean drifted off to sleep. As I lay there holding my son, I began talking to God within my heart. I thought about God and his son. What it must have felt like for him to let go of his one and only son? I pondered:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son. That whoever believed in him would not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) That night I talked to God about all kinds of things. I said to God, I know that my mind cannot truly comprehend the magnitude of “God so loved the world.” Could you help me understand a little of how you felt? God with the quietest of voice nudged me in my heart, “Would you snuggy me?” I began to cry, and I felt God deep within my heart. I for certain had an unexplainable glimpse of Gods love for me. Just like my heart melted to know that my son loved me. Gods’ heart is so much bigger. Just as my heart melted toward my son – Gods’ heart melts even more toward me and you.
People may think I am crazy. I am ok with that. You cannot tell me any different. It was God. You see, God loves us so very much that he has given his absolute best, his most precious! My son is irreplaceable. Gods’ son is even more, but he still gave.
That little word, “so” in the Bible emphasizes the intensity or greatness of his love. God our father gave his only son to die on behalf of a sinful humanity (the world). He died for you and me and still gave us the benefit of his resurrection.
What do I mean? As Christ Followers, we benefit from this great gift that we have received. So much so, that everlasting life or eternal life (in other versions of the Word) refers not only to quantity but also divine quality of life. We can receive that great love and we can share that great love. In fact, God commissions us in Matthew 28 to do just that. Share his great love. He made the ultimate sacrifice, price paid in full, debt canceling…God giving payment for you and for me.
This week let us remember this on-going love that God gave.
Yvette Perrin can be reached at theword2yvette@gmail.com.