Read: John 3:14-21
Every once in a while you run across a quote that sums things up so well. This past week I ran across a quote from John Stott in his book “The Cross of Christ” that really sums up the essence of what God has done for us through His Son Jesus Christ. In this quote John does not mention the name of Jesus but speaks of what God has done for us despite our sin and our inclinations toward selfish motives and selfish actions.
John writes, “The essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be; God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be. Man claims prerogatives that belong to God alone; God accepts penalties that belong to man alone.” This is what the gospel of John is saying in John 3:14-21 when he speaks of all that God has done for us.
A few weeks ago in a sermon I mentioned those times that we tend to bow down to other humans and say “we are not worthy” when they do something that is incredible or awe inspiring. This quote reminds us that we need to bow down to God and realize that we are not worthy of all that he has done for us despite our own sin and missteps in life. Nothing compares to the sacrifice that God has made in order to save us and restore his relationship with us. His love for us is that great and that incredible, and that is why we need to worship Him and give Him thanks for the salvation that he freely provides for us.
Make It Personal: Do you live in constant awareness of how awesome our God truly is? Do you thank Him and worship Him as often as you should? We are not worthy of all that God has done for us and for the sacrifice his Son Jesus has made for us on the cross, but we are blessed to be loved in such a great way.
Have a great week, Glen Rhodes
