To Whom Are We Listening? (part 4 of 16)

Have you felt the pain of rejection in your life? Do you find yourself spending a lot of time wondering what others are thinking of you? Have you ever uttered the words, “Nobody really loves me”? God wants you to realize how far that is from the truth.

Listen to what God says through His Word.
“For GOD SO LOVED the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” ( John 3:16 ESV)

“BY THIS WE KNOW LOVE, THAT HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” ( 1 John 3:16 ESV)

The first passage above focused on the LOVE OF GOD while the second focused on the LOVE OF JESUS in giving Himself on our behalf. If that LOVE were not real, would God have given such a costly gift? If not for GOD’S LOVE, would He not have perhaps given up on the human race long ago? And if our LORD’S LOVE were not real, would He have endured what He did to make our salvation possible?

GOD LOVED and so He sent His Son. JESUS LOVED and so He willingly gave Himself for us. LOVE has provided all that is necessary to make our relationship with God possible. Both the Father and the Son have experienced the pain of being rejected. May we be encouraged by the depth of LOVE they have for us and continue to respond accordingly.

Have a great day knowing GOD LOVES YOU and so do I!
Carl
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[This focus was originally sent 06/25/1999, (Edited some and the passages has been changed to ESV)]

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