The MAGNITUDE of such LOVE!
- We can be born again; yes, as incredible as this sounds, it is possible.
- We can experience newness of life; yes, this is possible through Jesus Christ.
- We can live our earthly lives and long for heaven, the eternal inheritance promised to all who believe in Jesus.
- We can be born into God’s family; yet this is not through our earthly position but through our position in Christ, that which only comes through the shed blood of Christ Jesus.
- We can choose to receive God’s ultimate love—His gift of salvation; it is only possible through our acceptance of His only Son Jesus.
For some reason, the uniqueness of numbers consumes my mind today.
For example—My baby brother was born on 3-3 (1984).
Years later, as a young man, as incredible as this sounds, my baby brother was born again, in Christ.
Yes, it is possible!
“Jesus answered and said to him,
(The Gospel According to John 3: 3 NASB)
[Jesus spoke the following words to a ‘religious man,
one who was struggling to understand, to see his need for a Savior]
“Truly, truly, I say to you,
unless one is born again
he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
The oddly wonderful simplicity of numbers continues as we consider that which Jesus has done for each one of us.
For example—My dear friend Donna was born on 9-17 (1949).
Five years ago, I met a dear, godly lady, one who has been gifted with healing hands.
She has lived her life in service to her students, and once she reached retirement, she walked within a new work, one that allowed her life to cross with mine.
Believers in Jesus’ death and resurrection experience newness of life, possible through Christ.
Praise God—this is possible!
“For where a covenant is,
(The Letter to the Hebrews 9: 16-17 NASB)
there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it.
For a covenant is valid only when men are dead,
for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.”
This uniqueness of numbers, while so odd, seemingly brings such beauty.
For example—My best friend’s sister was born on 3-20 (1974).
& my best friend’s daughter was born on 4-20 (2013).
This year, the calendar proclaims the celebration—Resurrection Sunday, EASTER.
This remains the day of promise to all who believe. When Jesus arose from the grave, overcoming death, He brought transformation, change to all who believe in HIM.
Christians know our citizenship resides in heaven, the eternal inheritance promised to all who believe in Jesus.
Yes, we long for heaven, even as we walk on this earth!
“For our citizenship is in heaven,
(The Letter of Paul to the Philippians 3: 20-21 & 4: 1 NASB)
from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory,
by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown,
in this way I stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.”
This odd fascination, while it permeates my mind, I am reminded of someone I met a few years ago.
Notice, for example—a sweet lady who celebrates her birthday on 2-19 (1940).
Once I post this blog, the precious person who will read this writing, who will critique it for errors, for unclarity. She was born to this precious lady, her mother.
We ponder the magnitude of our inheritance, of our position in Christ Jesus, only possible through the shed blood of Jesus.
We are born again through Jesus into God’s family,
“AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY,
(The Letter of Paul to the Ephesians 2: 17-19 NASB)
AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR;
for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,
but you are fellow citizens with the saints,
and are of God’s household,”
Finally, and in closing, I am astounded when I consider the calendar date of tomorrow.
See, for example, the remarkable number—Tomorrow is Sunday, 3-16.
(In this number, we are reminded daily of the ultimate display of God’s love).
“We know love by this,
(The 1st Letter of John 3: 16 NASB)
that He laid down His life for us;
and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
Yes, we can choose to receive God’s ultimate love—His gift of salvation—only through our acceptance of His only Son Jesus.
The MAGNITUDE of such LOVE!
Jesus, the Son of God—spoke these words to Nicodemus, a religious man, a Rabbi, and a ruler of the Jews.
“For God so loved the world,
(The Gospel According to John 3: 16 NASB)
[this means God so loved you and he so loved me]
[this also means God so loved every single man, woman, boy and girl born into the world]
that He gave His only begotten Son,
[JESUS CHRIST, the SAVIOR & MESSIAH]
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish,
but have eternal life.”