"World"

"God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life." - John 3:16 (NCV)

Hollywood has away of telling stories of love.  If I may borrow from the controversial Rob Bell, "love wins" just about ever time.  Usually the two protagonists need to overcome some sort of obstacles, deal with each others faults and goof ups, come to some sort of epiphany, and, viola, love wins.  Happy and sappy, things work out.  Occasionaly, the boy does not alway get the girl, but, normally it is because some obstacles just cannot be overcome.  Yet, even here, one can see that love still remains even though circumstances are dictating our protagonists' seperation.

Where is the story that tells of someone loving another despite hate and rejection.  Where is the movie that shows the protagonist giving the ultimate sacrifice for another while being maligned, abused, and counted as a fraud.  Those stories are extremely rare on film and in print, if they exist at all.  No, I am afraid that this kind of story might be labeled as one of a kind.  However, it does exist.  It is located in John's Gospel, chapter 3, verse 16.  It is a love story that rivals anything ever seen on screen.  Titanic and The Notebook, take a seat.  Harlequin and Jackie Collins, you have nothing.  Yes, this love story trumps them all.

You see, the Bible says that "God loved the world so much..."  The focus here is not on love, for we all know that God loves.  That's who he is; that's what he does.  Ah, but the object of that love deserves comment.  The word "world" is simply translated "kosmos" in the Greek language with a variety of meanings.  It can mean: planet earth, the world as sum total of everything, or mankind, among other things.  But it also has the connotation of "the world, and everything that belongs to it hostile to God. (Walter Bauer).  John uses this term no less than 57 of the New Teatament's 186 usages.  Nearly all of John's references to "world" have this latter meaning.

Several commentators have stated that a more accurate reading of the text would be, "For God so loved the God-hating world."  This is you and me.  We have rebelled, chosen to be our own gods, treated God callously in the good times, and with contempt in the bad.  Yet, despite unasked for and undeserved, God chose to love all encompassing and unconditionally.  Plus, he does it whether we like it or not.  Take a look around.  From the religous leader to the sinner; from the homeless to the rich man; from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe; "red and yellow, black and white," this world became the target of the largest rescue operation ever.  That person on the news, the one seated next you, the one down the street, the loudmouth, the arrogant, the shy, the incompetent, the braggart, the adult, the child, and the teen are all targeted by God's love.  Now, that is a love story!

While we may complain about "this world" from time to time, and those opportunities are all too frequent, remember that God loved it so much he was willing to give his Son to redeem it.  If he could do that, the least we could do is pray for our world.  And the ending?  Well, it is still being written.  The offer of uncondional love is still offered to the world.  This is one happy ending you get to play a role in.  God loving us, despite us.  I guess we are not in Hollywood, anymore.

"Affection"

The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.  - Deuteronomy 7:7 (NIV)

When I read this verse the other day, I recalled a great old hymn from my childhood by Robert Harkness:

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!

I have to say, those exclamation points say quite a bit.  After all, should we not be excited to be loved by God?  Should we not be excited to know our Creatore loves us so?  Absolutely, we should be excited!  There are many different "voices" that bring an equally number of emotions into our lives.  One of the greatest voices that elicits the grandest of all emotion, is the one that conveys love and acceptance.  To know one is loved is perhaps the greatest feeling of them all.  A spouse, child, or close friend has a way of calming the storms in our lives by their declarations of love and support.

In the book of Deuteronomy, Israel stands on the brink of Canaan.  Moses, restricted from going with them, encourages them through a series of sermons.  And encourage them he does!  The nations may be larger and stronger (7:2), but God is on the side of Israel!  The Israelites are "holy to the Lord," "chosen," and a "treasured possession" (v. 6).  All Israel had to do was follow in the laws and decrees of  God. 

Yet here is the intersting part: God loved them.  That's right.  God, the Creator of all things, loved Israel.  Through good times and bad, He loved them; through obedience and disobedience, He loved them; through acceptance and rejection, He loved them.   It was not because the were the largest, they were not.  It was not because they had a lot to offer, they did not.  It was not because they had abundant wealth or resources, they did not.  But he loved them!  Not only that, but God had "set his affection" on them (v. 7).  

"Affection", or khaw- shak in Hebrew, here means "delight, love, attached to.  Is this not an amazing concept?  God delighted himself with Israel.  He attached himself to them.  Throughout their journeys, this reminder would always be with them.  Through the victory of Jericho and the defeat at Ai, God loved them.  As a nation and in exile, God loved them.  His greatest act of love would be shown on a rocky hill called Golgotha many years later.  Jesus' death heralded, yet again, the reminder that God, through it all, loved them.

Did you know that God has "set his affection" upon you?  Not because you were good enough, not because you have a lot to offer, not because you are wealthy, not because you are wise, and not because you have it all together.  No, he loves you, because that is who he is.  So when your world crashes in, breaks your heart, disappoints, insults, maligns, and hurts you, remember that God loves you.  He always has; he always will.  A rocky hill called Golgotha reminds us of that fact.

"How wonderful is love like this!"

"Endless"

3) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4) who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3 - 4 (NIV)


Last night was a fun night for two of my daughters and I.  We each made our first ever trip to Red Robin.  For those of you who have never been there, their specialty is gourmet burgers.  Not one of us was disappointed in our experience.


One of the features offered was something called "Endless (or bottomless) Fries."  No commentary is necessary.  You could eat steak fries until your belly button popped out.  Two thumbs way up!  In reality, while that made for a great marketing tool, and a definite reason to go back, I am not sure many health professionals would recommend eating steak fries until you passed out.


There are many things that offer an "endless" supply.  Some of those things are not good for us, either in the physical realm or the spiritual realm.  The old adage is still true:  just becuase you can, does not mean that you should.  But there is something that you or I could never get enough of.  And unlike steak fries, ice cream, or candy, this will never leave you with regrets.  I read the above passage from 1 Corinthians 1 yesterday.  As I read the Beattitudes from Matthew 5 as a companion to this passage, I was impreseed with the notion that the mercy and love of God are "endless".


As the "God of all comfort", I can believe that there is nothing that God cannot handle.  His love for me is so deep and rich, and His power is so infinite, I can never exhaust Him.  When the road is long, He is there.  When the journey is tiresome, He is there.  When companions along the way complicate things or even abandon us in our greatest time of need, He is there.  In Matthew 5, the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the hungry and thirsty, and the persecuted, all find a grace sufficient for their every need.  Just when all hope seems to be gone, God continues to pour out His goodness.  He continually speaks into and acts upon our need.  Scott Wesley Brown penned these words to this great song entitled "He Will Carry You":


There is no problem too big God cannot solve it. There is no mountain too tall He cannot move it.
There is no storm too dark God cannot calm it. There is no sorrow too deep, God cannot soothe it.

If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders.
I know , my brother, that He will carry you.
If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders.
I know, my sister, that He will carry you.


Not only does He supply comfort and encouragement for each of us, but He pours out enough to reach others around us (1 Cor. 1:4).  The same comfort that has been lavished on us is used to touch those in our sphere of influence.  As we experience all that God is in the midst of our disappointments, failures, and trials, we are to spread that comort to others.  Enough for my neighbor and me?  Now that is "endless"!  AND, it is good for you!


So upon your next visit to Red Robin, enjoy the fries.  But know that it is God alone who can endlessly supply all we need and more.