Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - Kansas City, Missouri, United States - "Trading Places" Monday, 26 January 2015 - Scripture: 1 John 4:7 My dear friends, we must love each other. Love comes from God, and when we love each other, it shows that we have been given new life. We are now God’s children, and we know him. 8 God is love, and anyone who doesn’t love others has never known him. 9 God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life. 10 Real love isn’t our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us this much, we must love each other.12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is truly in our hearts.
13 God has given us his Spirit. That is how we know that we are one with him, just as he is one with us. 14 God sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. We saw his Son and are now telling others about him. 15 God stays one with everyone who openly says that Jesus is the Son of God. That’s how we stay one with God 16 and are sure that God loves us.
God is love. If we keep on loving others, we will stay one in our hearts with God, and he will stay one with us. 17 If we truly love others and live as Christ did in this world, we won’t be worried about the day of judgment. 18 A real love for others will chase those worries away. The thought of being punished is what makes us afraid. It shows that we have not really learned to love.
19 We love because God loved us first. 20 But if we say we love God and don’t love each other, we are liars. We cannot see God. So how can we love God, if we don’t love the people we can see? 21 The commandment that God has given us is: “Love God and love each other!”
"Trading Places" by Judyann Grant
When Erin’s son was hospitalized with bacterial pneumonia she ever left his side. For fourteen days, at two different hospitals as well as an ambulance ride, mommy was there every moment. Erin ate, showered, and dozed only when Landon slept. Through long days and even longer nights she wished to trade places with him. She longed to feel the sting of the needles and endure the surgeries herself to save her little boy the pain.
As much as Erin loves Landon, God loves His Son infinitely more, yet He sent Jesus to trade places with us. Jesus took upon Himself the burden of our sin and our punishment. He did it willingly because He loves us. It hurt Erin to see her only son go through his serious illness. What must it have been for God to watch His Only Son suffer and die for us?
Landon relied on his mother’s love and devotion. It was a joyous day when he was well enough to come home. Just so, we rely on the unswerving love of God to see us through to eternity.
Hymn for Today: "That God should love a sinner such as I" by C. Bishop
1. That God should love a sinner such as I,
Should yearn to change my sorrow into bliss,
Nor rest till He had planned to bring me nigh,
How wonderful is love like this!
Refrain:
Such love, such wondrous love,
Such love, such wondrous love,
That God should love a sinner such as I,
How wonderful is love like this!
2. That Christ should join so freely in the scheme,
Although it meant His death on Calvary,
Did ever human tongue find nobler theme
Than love divine that ransomed me?
Refrain:
Such love, such wondrous love,
Such love, such wondrous love,
That God should love a sinner such as I,
How wonderful is love like this!
3. That for a wilful outcast such as I,
The Father planned, the Savior bled and died;
Redemption for a worthless slave to buy,
Who long had law and grace defied.
Refrain:
Such love, such wondrous love,
Such love, such wondrous love,
That God should love a sinner such as I,
How wonderful is love like this!
4. And now He takes me to His heart—a son,
He asks me not to fill a servant’s place;
The “Far-off country” wand’rings all are done,
Wide open are His arms of grace.
Refrain:
Such love, such wondrous love,
Such love, such wondrous love,
That God should love a sinner such as I,
How wonderful is love like this!
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