When Discouraged, Remember This...

by Pat Higgins

Does it seem as if life is becoming just one trial after another? None of us knows the deadline God has assigned to our lives -- some die suddenly in their thirties, forties and fifties, but we do know that with each passing day we get closer to our end. Because God is faithful and not slack concerning His promise of finishing the good work He has begun in us, trials are a necessary part of the Christian life.

Still, it can be overwhelming. How do we combat discouragement? How do we endure to the end? God has given us the fundamental understanding we need to face our trials successfully and endure in I John 4:17: "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world."

On its face, it does not seem to be much of an answer. That is because to understand the power of this verse, we need to bring together other scriptures -- the "here a little, there a little" principle. The explanation begins with an incredible yet generally overlooked scripture.

The amazing scripture is in John 17. This chapter is the last prayer of Jesus Christ just before His arrest that Passover night. He begins by praying for Himself, then for His disciples. Verse 20 begins a section in which He includes all future believers, "those who will believe in Me through their [the disciples'] word."

At this point, consider for a moment how much God must love Jesus Christ. After all, they have been working together side-by-side for literally countless years -- all eternity -- in perfect harmony.

Relatively few couples are blessed with outstanding marriages that last fifty years or more. After so long, the depth of their relationship must be close and intimate. If that happens between two human beings in fifty years, what would it be like after a few billion? It would be intimate beyond our comprehension. Such is the depth of God's love for Christ -- far beyond our comprehension.

Now notice verse 23, especially the two requests made by Christ in the last half of the verse: "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them AS You have loved Me." Jesus is asking God to reveal two things to the world: that God sent Him and that God loves us as much as He loves Jesus Christ.

Understanding the full impact of this verse hinges on a little, two-letter word "as." One definition is "to the same extent or degree; equally." Equally implies no more, no less. This definition makes Jesus' request staggering in its implications! It means we can truthfully say that there is not a being in the universe -- including Jesus Christ -- whom God loves more than us. Each individual whom God has called can say the same thing. God loves us all at the same incredible, beyond our comprehension level.

Think about it. The Creator of everything, the epitome of love, loves YOU as much as He loves His Son. That should make every day brighter as we journey homeward to be with Him. 

 

Other Articles
The Eternal Value of not Giving Up
Winning Last Place
The Empty Promises of Atheism
 

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