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Scripture~John 3.16 (ESV)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Wisdom Saying
Salvation is not merely deliverance from sin, nor the experience of personal holiness; the salvation of God is deliverance out of self entirely into union with Himself. My experimental knowledge of salvation will be along the line of deliverance from sin and of personal holiness; but salvation means that the Spirit of God has brought me into touch with God's personality, and I am thrilled with something infinitely greater than myself, I am caught up into the abandonment of God.
*Oswald T. Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest
Comments
To enjoy eternal life is to give ourselves. Eternal life is found only in such self-giving. God sets the pattern for the giving. God gave Jesus Christ. God gave God-self for you and me. Now, is not that intimate?
I give two questions about God giving God-self. Did God lose any of God by giving God-self? What prompted God to the giving of God-self?
God did not lose any of God in the incarnation of the Word, Jesus Christ? Likewise, we need not fear we shall lose any of ourselves by giving ourselves, too.
The motive for God giving God-self is love. All other motives are derived from this benevolence.
The Christian life is God-like in calling us to give of our very and whole selves. This self-offering has the first and perfect motive of spiritual love. Other motives are consequence of spiritual love.
If we pour out ourselves for others, not holding on to ourselves in fear of losing ourselves, we find something wonderful we can find in no other way. We discover the thrill of participating in something infinitely greater than ourselves. And this arises from our union with God, in Whom we are in living contact with spiritual love in all its Perfection.
For God does not just call us to a deliverance from ourselves. God calls us to a self-offering of ourselves, and in the bliss and sacrifice of spiritual grace.
Suggested Reflection
Read or sing and reflect on the words of the famed hymn "I Gave My Life for Thee," Frances Havergale, Words, 1858. To hear the tune, go to www.cyberhymnal.org . Inquire of yourself, "What am I being called upon to give up for Christ?" and "How is the Holy Spirit leading me to give myself?" Consider praying a prayer of self-offering, with a request to the Holy Spirit to bless and enable you in pouring out yourself in spiritual love.
I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed,
That thou might ransomed be, and raised up from the dead;
I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?
I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?
My Father’s house of light, My glory circled throne,
I left for earthly night, for wanderings sad and lone;
I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me?
I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me?
I suffered much for thee, more than thy tongue can tell,
Of bitterest agony, to rescue thee from hell.
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, what hast thou borne for Me?
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, what hast thou borne for Me?
And I have brought to thee, down from My home above,
Salvation full and free, My pardon and My love;
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me?
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me?
Feel free to submit a query. Thanks! Brian K. Wilcox
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