Manna in the Morning

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son...” is probably the most well-known verse of the Bible. But we should never let it’s familiarity diminish its meaning and importance. This verse describes for us the amazing love that God has for mankind that He has created in His image. Though man has rebelled against God’s law and often spurned His love... yet, God’s love is steadfast and real. Spurgeon used to tell of a farmer who had a weather vane on his barn with the motto, “God is love.” He was asked if the motto was intended to suggest that God is as changeable as the wind. To which the farmer replied, “Oh, no! It means that no matter which was the wind blows, God is love.” No matter which way the wind blows... no matter how hard it blows... we can depend on the love of a faithful and steadfast God in whom we can find shelter and protection.

In the New Testament we see Jesus making contact with all sorts of people. He was not put off by the social taboos of that day. He cared about people. He touched lepers... he reached out to the outcasts... he bounced children on his knee... he cared for people who were hurting and rejected. In Stockholm, Sweden, a lady was pinned beneath a streetcar. She was seriously injured and bleeding badly. A crowd collected. They tried to move the streetcar, but it was too heavy. There was nothing to do but wait for the heavy equipment to come. She was in great pain and she was losing blood rapidly. Suddenly a young man broke away from the crowd. He crawled under the streetcar and took the woman’s hand and said, “Hold my hand tightly until help comes.” In holding his hand she grew calm. She avoided going into shock. The loss of blood was slowed. Finally, after she was freed, she said, “I never knew the touch of a hand could mean so much.” Jesus is our great example... is there someone’s hand that you need to hold today?

Amy Carmichael was a missionary to South India. Had she never experienced suffering, her name would probably not be well known today. She spent 56 years on the mission field and never returned home to England on furlough. An accident damaged her leg and left her bedridden for the last 20 years of her life. It was during these years in bed that she wrote most of her 40 books. God used her experience of suffering to bring encouragement to millions of people. It was her understanding of God’s ability to fulfill the promise of Romans 8:28 that led Miss Carmichael to write, “A wise master never wastes his servant’s time.” In other words, no matter what set of circumstances we receive, God will not waste an experience if we remain obedient to him. The promise of Romans 8:28 is, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Whatever your find yourself dealing with today... remember... God can use it for your good and His glory.

Understanding is so important. Here’s a good example: A college student took his girlfriend to her very first football game. After the game, he asked her how she liked it.

“I really didn’t understand the game at all,” she said, “and there was one thing that I especially did not understand: why would these otherwise intelligent men try to kill each other for 25 cents?”

Her confused boyfriend asked, “25 cents? What are you talking about?”

“All they were doing the whole game through,” the girlfriend explained, “was screaming at each other to GET THE QUARTERBACK, GET THE QUARTERBACK!”

To be sure understanding the terms of a game that we are not familiar with can present its own confusion. But, I think there is a greater challenge: trying to understand why God loves me... trying to understand that the Creator of the Universe wants to have a relationship with me... trying to understand why so many people have turned away from the God who loves them so much. A great theologian was once ask about the greatest theological truth he had ever discovered... to which he replied, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so!”

Kelso Carter wrote an old Gospel Hymn entitled, “Standing On the Promises” which has blessed the hearts of many through the years. “Standing On the Promises” is more than a title to a song. It is the very heart of our faith. It is the only place we have to stand. Once, a song leader stopped a congregation in the middle of singing that song. He asked people in the audience to volunteer some of the promises on which they were standing. One said, “Lo, I am with you, always.” Another said, “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.” Still another said, “Where two or three are gathered together, there am I in the midst.” Soon, a dozen promises had been quoted. When the singing resumed, there was a marked increase in enthusiasm. As we go about our day to day... let us remember that the best place in all the world for us to stand is “on the promises of God.”

Today is Good Friday. Friday is the day that Jesus was convicted as a common Criminal and sentenced to die... but Sunday’s coming! Friday is the day that the crowds cried crucify... that was Friday... but Sunday’s coming! Friday is the day that Jesus was flogged and mocked and spit upon... that was Friday... but Sunday is coming! Friday was the day that he was made to carry his cross to the hill of Golgotha... that was Friday, but Sunday’s coming! Friday was the day they nailed the nails in his hands and feet... that was Friday but Sunday’s coming! Friday was the day that Jesus breathed his last... that was Friday but Sunday’s coming! Friday was the day that the sun refused to shine at midday... that was Friday but Sunday’s coming! Friday was the day they put his lifeless body in a cold tomb and sealed it with a stone... that was Friday but Sunday’s coming! Today is the day we call Good Friday but Sunday is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead! Hallelujah Christ is risen!!!

Tomorrow is Good Friday... the observance of the day when Jesus was put to death on a cruel cross. Think a moment about Christ. Suppose the cross had never happened. Suppose Jesus just lived to be an old man, drifted into senility and died in His sleep. Would there be any such thing as the Christian religion? You know the answer to that. It’s “No.” But history tells us that the cross was real... that Jesus died on that cross. In the forceful words of Bob Shannon: “Jesus took the cross and turned it into a hammer. He battered down the gates of Hell. He took the cross and turned it into a lever and moved the world. He took the cross and turned it into a bridge so that you and I might pass over from darkness to light and from death to life! That’s why Good Friday is so good. God was busily at work accomplishing our redemption through the blood of the perfect sacrifice... His Son!

We are in the middle of what is commonly called Holy Week. It’s the observance of the week of activities leading up to Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. Many are offended by the doctrine of the cross. They feel it is an affront to the sensitivities of our 21st century sophistication. They feel it is an emblem of cruel death and suffering. They feel it is an uncomfortable reminder of blood and death. The interesting thing is that all of those opinions are actually true. The manner of Jesus’ death is an affront to human sensitivity. Jesus most certainly suffered and died in a very cruel manner. And, there is no escaping that at the heart of Christianity is blood and death— the blood of Jesus.... the death of Jesus. While that may sound harsh it is also designed to be a holy expression of the love of a Graceful God who gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Let us live this day with an awareness of God’s love that He expressed to us by the cross of Calvary.

This week we have been challenged by the basic principles of daily Christian living that Paul put forth in Romans chapter 12. We have already noticed the important emphasis that Paul placed on genuine love to others as well as having clear and defined awareness of the difference between good and evil. Paul also tells that we are to “give preference to one another in honor.” (Romans 12:10b) Now that principle really goes against the grain of the attitude we see in our world. So many are out for #One... numero uno... the “I am the greatest” mentality. But when we look at the life of Jesus He demonstrated that superb quality of humility. Our world fosters the grab for power and prestige... Jesus shows us how to serve and care for others. Our world stresses privilege and status... the Bible teaches living for others even to the measure of sacrifice. The greatest example of genuine humility was when the Creator of the World and the Lord of the Universe one day took a towel and basin and knelt down to wash the feet of others! Let’s show honor to others in our living today.

We have been spending some time this week in the 12th chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans. In verse 10 Paul writes, “Be affectionate to one another in brotherly love.” What the Apostle is calling for us to do is to truly care for each other as Christians because we are members of the same family. Within the church we should never treat each other as strangers... we should never have our own little cliques or circles that tend to keep some people at a distance. The Church is not a collection of acquaintances... it is not even just a gathering of friends...it is not a club or company of mutual admirers. it is the family of God. It is a family where needs are met... burdens are shared... hearts are encouraged... spirits are lifted... and joy is shared because we are brothers and sisters... children of one Father... God. In another place Paul said, “This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other equally. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.” (I Cor. 12:25,26) So today, I urge you to love and care for each other... that fulfills the law of Christ.