The World

I’m still reading Jimmy Carter’s devotionals, and enjoying them. I like the format he uses – a Bible verse, his thoughts and a closing prayer. Chapter 21, dated January 18, 1998, is titled “A Wonderful Mystery” and uses a paraphrase of Ephesians 3:4-5 at the beginning. I think a bit more of the chapter helps:

If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (Ephesians 3:2-6 KJV)

As part of Carter’s devotional thoughts, he asks a question – then gives his answer:

How could this simple carpenter’s son from Nazareth, who had only a three-year ministry on earth, have transformed the world in such a powerful way?

Jesus brought us a gift of love from God Almighty, so that no matter what we have done, if we repent, we can be totally forgiven and reconciled with God through faith in the risen Christ.

So much of this remains a mystery. Why did God choose this means of reconciliation? Why does God so love the world that He gave the means of salvation? Why did God love us before we loved Him?

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10 KJV)

Let’s go a step further – just who does God love?

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(John 3:16 KJV)

The world – not Christians. The world – not just those we love. The world – that means the person that’s going to be rude to you today; the driver that cuts me off in traffic this afternoon; the person you over hear cursing. The world is huge and contains more unlovable people in it than the number of those we love. Yet, God loves every single one of them.

And, the biggest mystery of all is:  He expects us to love them, too.

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (1 John 3:11 KJV)

That’s not the only verse – the phrase “love one another” is used in twelve verses. Jesus spoke the words first in:

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35 KJV)

Can all others see the mystery of God’s love for mankind through our love for all who need Him? In what way are we expressing His love for others in our daily lives?