We've talked about the depth of God's love, now it's time to talk about the recipient of God's love..the world. Often when we read the Bible, "the world" (the Greek word kosmos) refers to "the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ" as when Jesus says in John 15:18, ""If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first."
Another definition is "the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family", which seems to be a more appropriate definition for John's use in our verse today. When you look at the picture included here, does it boggle your mind like it does mine that God so loves each and every one of those people, individually? That His love was poured out for all mankind, the entire human family, in the gift of Jesus. Does it break your heart that so many people do not know the love of God, do not understand their value in His eyes? And does it break your heart even more that some people have heard, and yet don't seem to care? And does it bother you most of all that those of us who do know God's love, who have experienced the gift of His unbelievable mercy and grace through Jesus, are not more concerned about sharing that message to those who don't?
The same word kosmos is used in Matthew 5:14-16, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." The Message says that we are the light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. I like that, in a world that often seems dull and lustless, the light of God shining through those who know Him brings a brilliance and luminosity.
We have no problem believing that "God so loved the world..." but I worry that I often don't love the world so very much. My world becomes very small and limited, very much opposed to the magnitude of the world that is the object of God's love. I need to remember that every person I meet is the object of God's sacrificial love...He loved them SO much that He gave His one and only Son.
God loved - He loves - I have received His love - I must share His love with His world by letting my light shine through living a life of love for others and giving God the glory for all He has done for me.
1 comment:
God is so mighty. I remember as a young girl and it was told to me, God knows every hair on our head". I don't know if that is in scripture or if it was taught to me in Bible study at the FBC that I went to in Canyon. But not only does God love each and everyone but he knows each and everyone's hearts and their needs and he has plans for all of us. Maybe our greatest sins are that we can't love one another as Jesus taught. The greatest gift we can give is love and forgiveness. It is easy to love and forgive our own children, just as it is easy for God to love the world. We are all his children. I pray for a joyful and loving heart.
I try not to get caught up in the gossip that surrounds me at work or in the
neighborhood and even in my family. We must speak the truth and understand
our own truths. God is Love and it is with his Love and Grace and Power that I
try to love others here on earth.
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