Monday, December 20, 2010

Advent 23 - 1 John 3:16 - December 20

We know love by this,
that he laid down his life for us—
and we ought to lay down
our lives for one another.
1 John 3:16
 
We all know John 3:16, but did you know how the equal power of FIRST JOHN 3:16?
 
In John 3:16, we are told how much the Father loves -- enough to give his only begotten son. In FIRSTJOHN 3:16, we are reminded how much the Son loves us too -- enough to lay down his life.
 
FIRST JOHN 3:16, you may recognize, is a rephrasing of Jesus' own words. In John 15:13, our Savior said, "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." Indeed, he said it, then he did it.
 
Whenever I hear that verse, I can't help but think that one of the young men in our church had that tatooed on his bicep. When? Just before he was deployed to Afghanistan. "No one has greater lovethan this, to lay down one's life for one's friends."
 
In this week of love (and hopefully homecomings for some of you), please pray for our service men and women -- especially Adam in Afghanistan -- who are away from home this holiday season and in harm's way. "God, keep them safe. And bring a swift end to tyranny and terrorism."
 
In Christ's Love,
a guy who knows his own son
will someday be deployed

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