GOD IS LOVE Devotion 22 of 34 "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world" (1 John 4:14) DIVINE PURPOSES ARE REALIZED Behind this declaration is the revealed fact that Divine purposes ARE realized. God has left no doubt about this matter. "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it" (Isa 55:10-11, NKJV). Again it is written, "Who confirms the word of His servant, and performs the counsel of His messengers" (Isa 44:26). "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it" (Isa 46:10-11). RECOLLECTION MORE POWERFUL There is another aspect of the Kingdom that is here evident. Although the Apostles were chosen to be with Jesus, behold His workings, and directly hear His words, the recollection of those things had more power than seeing and hearing them. A word on this circumstance will be profitable. A SOURCE OF COMFORT This should be a source of great comfort to us. Such recollection is related to faith, which is "common" among every member of the body of Christ (Tit 1:4). This is precisely why Peter referred to the faith of later generations as "a faith of equal standing with ours" (2 Pet 1:1, RSV). There is a fellowship in faith that is on a grand and glorious scale. – Tomorrow:
"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love . . . God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:9,16)
This is now the third time in this chapter that John speaks of the Father sending the Son. "God SENT His only begotten Son into the world, THAT WE MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM. . . God . . . SENT His Son TO BE THE PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS. . . the Father SENT the Son TO BE THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD" (vs 9,10,14). Life! Propitiation! Salvation! Nothing is more important than these! All of them are sorely needed. The entire race was "dead." Sin, like a thick cloud, covered humanity. Bondage to Satan and sin dominated all men. God "sent the Son" to correct that situation. That truth must remain dominant in our thinking.
If this is true of God's Word, what may be said of His Son? Once the purpose for God sending the Son is declared, faith can take hold of it, realizing its fulfillment. There is no way that this revelation can be embraced by faith, yet not fulfilled in the believer!
When Jesus was bodily with His disciples, they were obtuse concerning His Person and purpose. This is made known in several of their responses. "What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him? . . . But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask Him . . . But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask Him of that saying . . . They understood not that He spake to them of the Father" (Mk 4:41; 9:32; Lk 9:45; John 8:27). Even though he was with Jesus, saw what He did, and heard what He said, Peter once rebuked Jesus for saying He would be "killed" (Matt 16:22). Upon hearing that Jesus was going away and would return to receive them again, Thomas responded, "Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?" (John 14:5).
But this type of response was abruptly terminated following Christ's ascension into heaven, exaltation to the right hand of God, and the sending of the Holy Spirit. Never again did they speak in such a manner. Jesus had told them, "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth . . . But the Helper (Comforter, KJV), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you" (John 16:13; 14:26).
The recollection of the things "Jesus began both to do and teach" (Acts 1:1), under the powerful tutelage of the Holy Spirit, had greater power, and yielded grander results, than seeing and hearing in the flesh.
Believing the record of the Apostles will yield the same effect in us as believing what they saw and heard produced in the them. It does not make us equal with them, but it does bring us into their fellowship, which is one of the reasons for their writings (1 John 1:3). The extent of this is challenging to ponder.
PRAYER POINT: Father, how I thank You for sending Jesus into the world. I know there is more to His entrance into the world than I presently see. In the name of Jesus, I ask for more insight into the Word being made flesh and dwelling among us.