T here is a great danger in the Christian life to apply truths to others which we really need for our selves. It’s like the woman who, com menting on the pastor’s sermon, de clared, “Everything he said applied to somebody I know.” The Word of God is meant for personal considera tion and application. To illustrate this scripturally, consider for a mo ment First John 3:1, 2, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” Whenever the word behold is found in the Word of God, it comes as the Lord’s special “Stop! Look and Listen!” sign. We might translate it simply, “Marvel at this!” In the first chapter of Matthew, verse 23, we find the word “Behold!” in the declaration, “A virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son.” Consider just how fantastic and supernatural an event like that was! It had never happened before, and certainly it’s never happened since. “Marvel at this.” Here is a virgin woman giving birth to a Son. No wonder the Holy Spirit moved Mat thew in writing this prophetic state ment to use the word “Marvel!” So, “Behold,” “Marvel” at this, “What manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us!” Now the words what manner is “from what country ?” From whence did this love come? We’ve all received gifts, I ’m
sure, that had clearly stamped on them, “Made in Japan” or “Made in West Germany,” or made in some other country, as well as the U.S.A. In the light of all the heartache in the world, it’s important to note that the love God has extended to each of us is not stamped with a trade mark from some place here on this earth. It can only emanate from heaven and the heart of God. No doubt most of our listeners today are citizens of the United States or Canada. But the more important question is, “Are you by faith also a citizen of heaven?” This is where divine love tru ly originates. Of course, the Apostle John speaks at great length on the subject of eternal love. Throughout the rest of his lit tle book, as a matter of fact, from chapter 3, verse 1 to the end of chapter 5, verse 21, he uses the word love in some form or another 66 dif ferent times. It’s one of the most significant sections on love in the entire Bible. There is something else that is given to us here which is particular ly significant. Notice, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath be stowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” and the fur ther declaration, “and such we are” (I John 3:1 A.S.V.). It may have been that this simple thought of per sonal possession was too great for some copyist to imagine. It was a marvel enough that we should be called the sons of God. So he may have set it aside when the Author ized (King James) Version was translated, but it was happily in cluded in the American Standard Version. 3
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