From Rev. June Stoker
Scripture: 1 John 3:1a
King James Version (KJV)
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.
New Living Translation
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!
Thought for the Day: I don’t think anyone doubts that God loves. After all we have been taught that He is a God of love. When I looked at this verse, I was astonished at the manner in which God loves us. The verse says our Father loves us in a manner that we are called his children. This is a strange kind of love, an unusual kind of love, a kind of love to which we are not accustomed since it is beyond the ordinary in our life.
Do you not remember how he found us? When we were still powerless, when we were helpless, when we were unable to make any contribution to the redemption we desperately needed, when there was not a thing we could do about it, and even our good was tainted with self-interest so that we could make no contribution whatsoever, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly,—for us (Romans 5:6). But it does not stop there: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). While we were still sinners, or while we were proud, overbearing in our attitude toward God, treating Him with condescension and indifference. When we were this way, Christ died for us.
God’s love is the greatest motivating force in this world. When human love is genuine, beautiful, noble and sacrificial, it is a tremendous power. But God’s love for His children far exceeds anything we can experience on the human plane.
Frederick Lehman says it this way:
The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell; it goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell; the guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His son to win; His erring child he reconciled, and pardoned from his sin.
Behold, what an unusual kind, what a different kind of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the children of God.
CHRISTMAS EVE
AT
CYPRESS CREEK
5pm – Family Service
7:30pm – Traditional Candlelight Service
With Choir
11:00 – Traditional Candlelight Service
With Brass Ensemble
