"You love us so much."

Sunday, November 4, 2012 (8:03 a.m.)

Blessed Father God,

Thank You that You love us so much. “For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life” (John 3:16 Amplified Bible).

(8:37 a.m.)

It seemed like such a simple statement. “You love us so much.” There is nothing simple about it! The more I read, the deeper it goes. Starting with Jesus' talking to Nicodemus about being “born again” (John 3:3) then back to Moses (v.14) in the wilderness with Your complaining and grumbling people (Numbers 21:1-9). Father I don't know where You want to take this time together.

“You love us so much.” There's a huge nugget in here somewhere. Something I'm not seeing. I keep digging. Thinking I'm onto something I haven't known before.

Overall, it seems to be 'faith'. The faith needed to believe that You truly DO love us so much. The faith it took for the people of Israel to go to Moses (Numbers 21:7) confessing their sin against You and asking him to pray to You on their behalf.

It took further faith for Moses to “make a bronze replica of one of those snakes and attach it to the top of a pole; anyone who is bitten shall live if he simply looks at it!” (Numbers 21:8). Faith for the people to go and look and live (v.9).

Faith. Trust in Your Word drawing us to Your Son, lifted up on a pole (John 3:14). Faith to believe in Him and have eternal life (v.15). Faith to believe that “You love us so much.” Thank You Father for the faith to believe. Use me this day to share Your Truth and Your love. I love You. I thank You. And I long to serve You... well. Thank You. Amen.

(329 words ~ 9:18 a.m.)