Thursday, March 5, 2009

Daily Lenten Devotional 3-5-09

www.HopeandHelpCenter.org
March 5th
John 3:16-21

'For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

'Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.'

Martin Luther called verse 16 "the gospel in miniature." How though are the rest of us to understand the gospel in one sentence?

I don't know whether belief comes to us attached to a great event in our lives or if it is offered in small chunks. If it comes in a big package might we not duck to avoid being hit by it and thus miss it all together? If it comes in small pieces, can we successfully swallow its food and grow strong in it?

I believe we must just be open to receiving it. Beyond that, I like to nestle in the immense mystery of God's love for us and just accept life as God's child. As Robert Rainy said, children "take a great deal for granted, that it will be looked after, without their looking after it-that is a child's wisdom." Sojourning with God (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1902) p.157. md

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