Tomorrow is the start of the season of Lent and many Christians around the world will wear ashes, in the form of a cross, on their forehead. This display on Ash Wednesday is important because it marks the start of the Lenten period leading up to Easter, the time when Christians celebrate the resurrected Jesus...the Son of God who gave his life to save all mankind from their sins. For those who have put their faith and trust in His redeeming act of selfless love, these ashes symbolize both death and repentance. During this period, Christians show repentance and mourning for their sins, because they believe Christ died for them.
It is during this season of Lent that we should all be reminded of the most quoted verse in the Bible, John 3:16, which reads, FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. It is not only the most quoted verse in the Bible, but I would surmise the one that is most memorized.
But do we really understand the truth of this wonderful, all-encompassing statement of God's LOVE...for our salvation is not based on our good works or something earned, but totally dependent on the grace of God in these four insightful truths. This verse reveals the gospel in four dynamic statements that are found in the four "c's"
SALVATION'S
CAUSE...FOR
GOD SO LOVE THE WORLD
SALVATION'S
COST...THAT
HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON
SALAVATION'S
CONDITION...THAT
WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM
SALVATIONS'
CONSEQUENCE...SHOULD
NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING
LIFE
I have been studying a new devotional book entitled, THE JOSHUA CODE, by Dr. O.S. Hawkins and the above was presented in a way that I had never completely gleaned from this wonderful Scripture. I know, without a shadow of doubt, that God's ways are PERFECT and that His plan for mankind's salvation is foolproof....but many of the people I know and love do not share that point of view. Perhaps you have loved ones, friends and family members that are liken to this same mindset and are still trying to "workout" or "earn" their way into God's perfect Heaven. They just cannot believe that ALL the work has been done. They find it too hard to accept their sinful nature, ask for God's bountiful grace and accept the forgiveness that comes from believing that Jesus died to set them free from their sin.....and in so doing, they will one day live in eternity with GOD, the Father; JESUS, the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT that will dwell within them until they leave this world.
Dr. Hawkins shared this unknown, yet wise old sage's dramatic explanation of John 3:16...
FOR GOD...the
greatest lover
SO LOVED....the
greatest degree
THE WORLD....the
greatest company
THAT HE
GAVE...the greatest act
HIS ONLY
BEGOTTEN SON...the greatest gift
THAT
WHOEVER...the greatest opportunity
BELIEVES....the
greatest simplicity
IN HIM...the
greatest attraction
SHOULD NOT
PERISH...the greatest promise
BUT...the greatest
difference
HAVE...the
greatest certainty
EVERLASTING LIFE....the greatest possession
So, my friends, as we enter into this holy season of Lent; when we take into account our miserable state of affairs as sinners, hopelessly and forever separated from our Creator by our great chasm of sin...Let us look to our Heavenly Father and truly take to heart the love that God has written in His Book, the HOLY BIBLE. For in this short, but life-changing verse God tells us of HIS UNENDIING LOVE, HIS UNYIELDING PURSUIT AND HIS UNWAVERING PROMISE OF HOPE if we will do but one simple thing....REPENT, ACCEPT AND BELIEVE that He has done all that needs to be done....the GIFT is ours when we accept and OPEN our hearts to His forever love.
IT
IS MY PRAYER THAT YOU WILL MEET AND COME TO KNOW YOUR CREATOR, LORD AND
SAVIOR.... AND THE GREAT LOVE HE HAS FOR YOU THIS EASTER SEASON....Need help in
making that connection, reach out to me at wpq815@gmail.com
PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE IN YOUR LIFE....HERE TO LEND A HAND,
WPQ
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