When our son Doug was little, he was really into collecting baseball cards.
Actually, so was I at that age - except they were on stone tablets back then. I
grew up in Chicago, and I loved the Chicago White Sox - and my favorite player,
Nelson - or Nellie - Fox. Nellie was their all-star second basemen who was later
inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Now those baseball card companies print
a lot of the less-known players, and a comparative few of the stars. So, try as
I would, I could not get a Nellie Fox card. I could get 6 of every other White
Sox player, but Nellie Fox - not a chance.
One day Doug and I were at a big baseball card show - I was really just along
for the ride. Then, at one table, there he was - Nellie Fox. I told Doug - who
was about 10 years old at the time- about my childhood search for that card. I
wasn’t going to spend money on it - I was just happy to see the old boy, just
under glass. I had come to doubt whether such a card had ever existed. Doug and
I split up at that point, and he started cruising the tables with the modest
savings he had from his allowances. About 20 minutes later, I felt someone
tapping on my arm - it was my son. He was reaching up, holding something in his
hand. He said, "Here, Dad. I love you." And there in his hand was that Nellie
Fox card. He had spent everything he had on it. I was wiped out. I felt very
loved.
My son is in his 20s now - but that moment will never be forgotten.
That moment he spent everything he had to show his love . . . When I felt his
deep love through his great sacrifice. It’s what God wants to do for you. The
word love may be a tough one for you - too often, it’s meant disappointment . .
. Betrayal . . .paying the price to get it, but coming up empty . . .and too
many lonely times. Then you may be ready for the one love that will never
disappoint you . . . Never betray you . . . Never leave you alone.
The Word of God says in I John 4:9, 10; "This is how God showed His love among
us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.
This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an
atoning sacrifice for our sins."
Does God love you? No doubt. How can you be sure? Because, like a little boy at
that baseball card show, He spent everything He had to show you. His spent His
one and only SON on you!
Why? It says, "for our sins." All those thousands of times you and I have done
it our way instead of God’s way . . . All the angry times, the selfish times,
the dirty times. We were created to live for the One who created us, but we
don’t care. "God, You run the universe - I’ll run me, thank You." And that has
sentenced us to Death Row - that’s the penalty for all of us sinners. But "God
sent His one and only Son that we might LIVE through Him." He sent His Son to
pay that awful penalty by dying for you on that cross.
At a camp with teenagers a few years back, I told about this incredible love
they could experience by trusting Jesus to be their Savior. Shawn came up to me
afterwards, almost unable to speak because of his tears. This was not the kind
of guy who cried much - a tough street kid. But He wanted Jesus. When I asked
him why, he said,
"Because no one ever loved me this much. No one ever loved me enough to die for
me - except Jesus."
No one ever loved YOU that much. However other people have treated you, here’s
how much JESUS thinks you’re worth - His life. It’s time you experienced His
love, isn’t it? He’s holding out to you the gift of life He bought for you with
His life. Don’t walk away from Him. Right where you are, tell Him you want to
begin a personal relationship with Him . . . That you’re pinning all your hopes
on what He did on the cross for you.
My heart was melted when I experienced my son’s love through his great sacrifice
for me. Today is your day to finally experience your Heavenly FATHER’S love -
when you finally realize that He loved you so much that He spent it all on you.
Today's Daily Wisdom is written by Ron Hutchcraft
dw-subscribe@lists.gospelcom.net
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