"God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him" John 3:17.
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went camping. They pitched their tent and settled down for the night. Hours later, Holmes woke up Watson and asked, "Watson, what do you see?" "The stars." he replied. "What does that tell us?" Holmes asked. "The sky is clear," Watson answered. "Indeed," said Holmes, "someone stole our tent!"
Often we see the obvious, but the consequences escape us. It's so easy for us to criticize the mistakes of others that we fail to see both their need for forgiveness and our need to forgive them. We neglect the opportunity to give them the forgiving love of God in Jesus Christ and leave them alone, accused by their sins.
How different is the love of God for us! When God saw us in our sins, He didn't neglect us, but sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us. Even His harsh words of reprimand for our sins is meant to lead us to repentance and restoration. His sacrificial love and work on the cross saved our souls. God sent Jesus not to accuse or condemn us, but to rescue and redeem us, to forgive and restore us.
These gifts of grace are not outwardly apparent as Jesus was dying on the cross. But by God's grace, He has brought us to believe that God in the flesh, Jesus, suffered and died for us that we may live with Him today and forever. Only in His Son do you have eternal life. This is God's way of reconciling you to Himself.
May you see beyond a man hanging on a cross 2000 years ago, and see God saving you!
-Dale
