Love Lifted Me

Daily Bread

Daily Devotions with Pastor Chuck

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Oh, praise be to our God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Not just any old god, but He who is the true God. To Him be all glory and honor and adoration. He has graciously granted us another day, more time in which to serve Him. And, when you think about it, He has given us more time to share His glorious message of salvation in Christ and more time for the lost to hear and respond.

Love . . . a word used so frequently, is it not? The word peppers the pages of holy Scripture. When I think of this oft used word I think of what John the apostle wrote in his first letter,

“By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (I John 4:9-10 – NASB)

The Greek word for “manifested” here means, “to render apparent” (Strong). We would go a bit further in this definition by saying it means to “make clear or evident to the eye or the understanding.” Since it is not the “eye” that we deal with in our text, since we have not seen the “Son” as of yet, then we can surmise that here, in our text, we are being given “understanding” that “the love of God” is made “evident” to “us” by the fact that “God sent His only begotten Son into the world.” And He did so “that” the world “might live through Him.”

God set the proper definition of “love” before “the world: He “sent His only begotten Son . . . He loved us and sent His Son.” And “in us” is “manifested” this most proper definition of “love,” and that is that “God . . sent” His “Son.” He “loved” in that He did something, and that something is “love . . . rendered apparent” through those He has saved, those who actually know and “understand” the proper definition of “love.” Through His revelation we are able to determine all of this regarding “love.”

“In this is love . . . that He loved us and sent His Son”

And “this . . . love,” it acted, it sacrificed, it actually “sent” and accomplished a most wonderful work through Jesus Christ the “Son,” for He was “the propitiation for our sins.” And this “love” brethren, as is given for us to “understand,” lifted “us” out of the death grip of sin. The old hymn puts it so very well,

“I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,

Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more:

But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,

From the waters lifted me, Now safe am I.”

Yes, most assuredly, “I was sinking deep in” my “sin . . . sinking to rise no more.” But now, in me, “the love of God (is) manifested” for I bear witness of the proper “understanding ” of “love, ” and that is that “God . . . sent His only begotten Son” and “lifted” me out of “the sea” and “now safe am I.” Because of “the love God” in Christ, “now safe am I.”

“Love lifted me! Love lifted me!

When nothing else could help, Love lifted me.”

In us, who have been born again of God’s Spirit, “the love of God is rendered apparent.” And to “the world,” through us, through the glorious gospel message that is in each one of us, the love of God is given “understanding.”

Have a good day . . . . and be aware that in you the very love of God is manifested to a lost and dying world.