Brown's Daily Word 2-8-12

Good morning,


Praise the Lord for this new day. We will gather for our mid-week service this evening at 6 PM, starting with a very special meal. We will gather for Bible study at 6:30 PM. We have been looking at John 3.

Max Lucado has written a book entitled simply "3:16". The entire book focuses on just one single verse from the Bible, John 3:16. Preschoolers can recite it. Football fans paint it boldly across cardboard signs. It’s brief enough to write on a napkin or memorize in moment, yet solid enough to withstand 2000 years of storms and questions. It begins with God, ends with life, and urges us to do the same! It all begins with a silent figure moving stealthily through the darkened streets of Jerusalem. Nicodemus was one of the Pharisees, the religious elite who militantly rejected Jesus. So, when he decided to seek Christ out and learn from him, he had to do so in secret. Slipping through alleyways and dimly lit streets, Nicodemus found his way to a simple house where Jesus and his followers are staying. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you” (John 3:2 NLT).

Without hesitation, Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Whatever Nicodemus had in mind that night, it’s clear what was on Jesus’ mind. Christ’s exposition on salvation reaches it’s climax in the sixteenth verse. John 3:16 (NIV)

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

In this one verse, we see how the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ relates to us. “For God so loved the world…” If those words are true, it changes everything. Imagine what the world would be like without God’s love. Earth would be merely a dark planet hurtling through space unguided, undirected. There would be no hope, no future, nothing to live for, no greater purpose to our existence. Every death would be an end. Every grave would be a place of despair.

But God does love the world! We see this in every sunrise, every blade of grass, every fountain of water, every birth,and every child’s face. God so loved the world (and loves the world still)! God made each of us uniquely special and He loves us very much.

This is the message George Matheson needed to hear. He was only fifteen when he was told that he was losing what little eyesight he had. Not to be denied, Matheson continued with his plans to enroll in the University of Glasgow, and his determination lead to his graduation in 1861 at age nineteen. By the time he finished his graduate studies he was completely blind, but his spirit didn’t collapse until his fiancée returned his engagement ring. She said she couldn’t see herself spending her life bound by the chains of marriage to a blind man. He adapted to life without sight, but never recovered from his broken heart.

Years later, while George was a well-loved pastor in Scotland, George’s sister came to him announcing her engagement. He was happy for her, but his mind went back to his own heartache. He consoled himself in thinking of God’s love which is never limited. Never conditional. Never withdrawn. Never uncertain. Out of this experience he penned these words: O love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, That in thine ocean depths it flow may richer, fuller be.

The Bible says, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39 NLT).

Jesus said, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” Just to say, “I love you,” doesn’t really mean a whole lot. Love--agape love--is a verb. It has to be tangibly demonstrated. It has to be proven, God’s love included. The Bible says, “But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!” (Romans 5:8 HCSB). Jesus said that God, “gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish…” This concept runs contrary to our instincts. Yet, it’s so simple. We expect a more complicated cure, a more sophisticated salvation. That Bible verse that says, “God helps those who help themselves” is not really in the Bible.

No other religion offers what Jesus promises. Judaism sees salvation as a Judgment Day decision based on morality. Buddhism grades your life according to the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Muslims earn their way to Allah by performing the duties of the Five Pillars of Faith.

Christianity is set apart from the rest. Jesus calls us to do one thing: believe! "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12 NIV) "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." (John 3:18 NIV)

"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36 NKJV)

"I tell you the truth, whoever believes has eternal life." (John 6:47 NCV)

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38 NKJV)

"Then he brought them out and asked, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.'” (Acts 16:31 NLT)

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8 ESV)

Perhaps you are thinking, "What about baptism, repentance and a changed life? Are you saying those things aren’t necessary?" No, of course not. Those are absolutely essential. However baptism, repentance, a changed life, and things like that are not in addition to faith but, rather, they are expressions of it. They acts of faith that work together with our faith to make our faith real. Jesus wants us to see is that it’s not because of what I have done, but because of who He is. It’s not because of who I am, but because of what He has already done! All he asks is for us to put our trust in Him, and Him alone!

I heard this illustration in 1979 from a young man who loved to serve the Lord. I have used this story several times since then. The story goes that once upon a time, there lived an elderly man whose one and only son proceeded him in death. The man was very wealthy, but because he had no living heirs his estate was auctioned off when he died. People came from miles around to bid on all the wonderful antiques and riches proudly displayed in the courtyard of his manor. The first item up for bid was an amateurish portrait of the rich man’s son. No one bid. The attendants grew restless, anxious to bid on the real family treasures. But the auctioneer wouldn’t proceed to any other items until the painting had sold. Finally, a sweet young mother, with southern accent, bid on the painting. She had worked in the manor as maid for a little while and knew how much the boy meant to his father. Suddenly the auctioneer threw down his gavel and announced that the auction was over. He walked over to the woman, gave her the painting and told her that everything she saw now belonged to her. The elderly man left specific instructions in his will that whoever buys the son, gets it all!

God has done the same thing! The Bible says, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12 ESV).

Max Lucado, has said, “God rewards those who seek him. Not those who seek doctrine or religion or systems or creeds. Many settle for these lesser passions, but the reward goes to those who settle for nothing less than Jesus himself.” He loves. He gives. We believe. We live.



In Christ,

Brown



http://youtu.be/sR8rlTIU8_Y





On FEBRUARY 11, 2012 Saturday, at First United Methodist Church, 53 McKinley Ave., Endicott, at 5:30 PM - There will be a Special Banquet prepared by Joe Walker, including a variety of international Cuisine... It will be a great celebration. At 6:30 PM there will be a Hymn Sing with Aric Phinney at the Grand Piano and Yancey Moore at the Organ. Dave Berry will lead the Hymn Sing.

Sponsored by The Union Center UMC.