1 John 4:9-10 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world… I. GOD LOVES MAN. Why, with a little child speaking of his mother's love, sometimes they fail; how much more when we speak of God's love! I saw a little child the other day clasp its arms round its mother's neck, and say, "Mother, I loves 'ou, and I know 'ou loves me, but I don't know how much 'ou loves me." So the little child spoke; and if it is true in that love, how much more in the love of God, of which all human love is but a shadow, a spark! II. GOD HAS MANIFESTED HIS LOVE. "In this was manifested the love of God." Of course God has manifested His love in ten thousand ways. Why everything in Nature, if we only see it rightly, is a manifestation of God's love. Every ray of warm sunshine is but a going out of God in love. But oh, the manifestation of God's love in nature is not enough to make us live. When some great artist manifests his skill in a work of art, begotten of his genius, it is exhibited in carpeted saloons, amid grandeur and pomp, and within tapestried walls. But when God manifested this masterpiece of grace His only-begotten Son — it was in the manger of Bethlehem, amidst the surroundings of poverty. Oh, have you believed that love? Many of you have heard about it, but it makes a vast difference when you believe it. The other day I stood by the death bed of a young man; his wife was beside it, and some friends were in the adjoining room; and I stayed there talking with them. And one earnest young man said, "Sir, can you understand why God allows such sorrow as that?" And I said, "Honestly, sir, I don't understand it; but I know that God loves us, and He knows what is best for us. Supposing I had a friend in trouble and I lent him £20,000; do you think that after I had done that I should see him starve for the want of a sixpence? Well, then, if God loves us so much that He gives His Son, let us trust Him for the rest, though we cannot understand it." (M. Rainsford, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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