“You can have this… but only if you promise to take care of it and never lose it.” These were my words as I handed the stuffed Mickey Mouse over to my grandson. I only added the caveat because of what it meant to me.
It had been mine when I was a child. But I was willing to give it up because I knew how much he wanted it, and needed it. I told him that if he ever out-grew it or didn’t want it, that was OK… but I would want it back. The attachment, I admit, is a bit stronger than normal.
He still has it today. He plans to pass it down… just as I did.
…
I have this coin that my wife gave me as a gift. It has the image of an eagle on one side and a verse from the Bible on the other. Isaiah 40:31, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength and mount up with wings as eagles.”
Knowing that this verse is one of my “life’s verses”, when she saw the coin she had to get it for me.
I carry it on me always. When I can’t find it I go crazy. Throughout the day I will put my hand in my pocket to check for it. It reminds me of her and how much she cares about me. About the love she expressed when she purchased it.
It costs less than a dollar to buy… but I would be willingly pay much more to get it back had I lost it.
It has sentimental value that cannot be measured. Like the Mickey… the attachment has come to represent something more than just what it is made of…
But of the love that caused the exchange.
And you have that value to God.
The Father loves us with a love that cannot be measured. A love that cost Him everything. He gave His only Son to die on a cross to purchase us… to purchase YOU… and then… He saw how much His Son wanted you… and so He gave you to Him…
But with that one caveat…
“And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing…” John 6:39
That caveat says, “I am not giving you away because I don’t want you anymore. I’m giving you as an expression of my love.”
We need to get it through our heads and into our hearts how much we are loved by God. We need to realize that we can’t even begin to realize how much that really is.
God is Love. And love gives. It sacrifices.
“ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”
And He so loved His Son that He gave Him you.
Think about that.
The gift that God felt was worthy of the cost was to give His Son… you.
You are a gift from the Father to the Son.
Jesus died to give you eternal life, knowing that the Father would reward Him with you as a gift.
What does that mean?
That Jesus can’t ever imagine having to go a day without you.
And He was willing to die so that he wouldn’t have to.
Receive His gift… become His gift.
Both... expressions of love.
How cool is that?
SDG
No comments:
Post a Comment