Crucified Love

Sunday, March 3, 2013 | Third Sunday of Lent

II Chronicles 36:14-17, 19-23 | Psalm 137 | Ephesians 2:4-10 | John 3:14-21

THE DILEMMA OF BEING LOVED

“God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in Him may not die but have eternal life.” - John 3:16

God loves us with so great a love (Ephesians 2:4) that we are put in a position where we are obligated to respond. First, God decided to empty Himself (Philippians 2:7) and become a human being. Then He decides to die on the cross for love of us. Next, He knocks on the door of our hearts (Revelation 3:20) so He can come in and permanently live within us (see John 14:23). Then He keeps on coming to us in bread and wine (see Matthew 26:26-28).

We are free to ignore Jesus’ incarnation and crucifixion. We can close our ears to this call. But wouldn’t this be the grossest ingratitude? If the Lord hadn’t loved us so much and so faithfully, we wouldn’t be in the constant dilemma of what to do about His love. However, if the Lord hadn’t loved us so much, we wouldn’t even have the opportunity to receive salvation. Because God is love, He gave us freedom. He will not force a person to love Him. Because we are free, we can decide to accept or reject God, to be with Him forever in heaven or without Him forever in hell. The greatness of God’s love implies the magnitude of our freedom. God’s love implies the existence of heaven and hell.

God has loved you with a perfect, infinite, crucified love. This is an unchangeable fact. What are you going to do about it? Will you love Him in return?

Prayer: Father, You are Love. May I decide every day to live in Your love and to live in You.