The Power Of God's Love

"Today's Devotion" For April 24, 2007

Read: Ephesians 2:1-10; Romans 5:1-11

THE POWER OF GOD'S LOVE

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:4-5)

If you've got friends or relatives like I do you probably receive your share of email "pass alongs." You know the ones I'm talking about. Those are the "don't break this chain and you'll receive a blessing" variety of emails. I regularly toss them, or, if it's one I haven't seen before (or don't remember) I file it for later use - sometimes they provide me with ideas for "Today's Devotion" - which is the case today.

The following is one of those emails that I've received a couple of times - never sent it out, but it stuck with me as being appropriate for looking at the Christian's life with God. Whoever wrote the following was very creative and not a bad mathematician (I've been told that in some quarters it's believed that mathematics can solve all the ills of society - perhaps you've seen the television series, NUMBERS). Here's what I received:

From a strictly mathematical point of view it's suggested that we can determine what it means to give 100% and also what it means to give more than 100% as well. It's suggested that we take the alphabet, A to Z, and assign each letter a numerical, percentage value from 1% to 26%, with "A" being "1%" and "Z" being "26%." If we use the numerical values of each letter, the idea is that we can measure how much certain activities on our part can build our relationship with each other and with God. So let's take a look at the following:

"Hardwork" is often seen as crucial for any amount of success we might have in life. So, based on our formula, "H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K" would look like this in numerical values: 8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%. Now that's close to 100%, but it doesn't quite make the grade.

The there's "Knowledge." Knowledge is touted in many was as the "end all and be all" for success. If you only have the proper knowledge, you can accomplish anything is one of the preeminent concepts we often hear. If we break "K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E" down to its mathematical components based on our formula, then its equation would look like this: 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%. Now 96% can still get you an "A" in school, but it's still short of 100%.

Of course it could be argued that "Hard Work" by itself is useless without "Knowledge," and "Knowledge" without application, i.e., "Hard Work," doesn't get you anywhere either. That's a function of "Attitude" we're told, so getting our "Attitude" in place is critical to one's success. The formula for "A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E" according to our premise is: 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%. We've hit the 100% level, but does that get us any closer to God?

According to Scripture, no amount of hard work, knowledge, or attitude is going to win God's approval, His forgiveness, or eternal life. Paul writes that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). He further assures us that what saves us isn't our hard work, knowledge, or attitude because none of them can measure up to God's standards by themselves. Sin so taints our lives, our human nature, that all our hard work, knowledge, and attitude is negatively affected so that we can't achieve God's purposes by ourselves. On the other hand, St. Paul reminds us that not only is faith in Christ a gift from God, but "we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works" (Ephesians 2:10).

And so we are returned to our mathematical formula and what it says about the "love of God" for us: "L- O- V- E-O-F-G-O-D" equals 12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%. The only thing that brings us into a full and loving relationship with God, receiving His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Christ is His love for us. One could say that this is a "mathematical certainty."

What we can say, however, that God's love for us is so great, and it's power so encompassing, that it affects every aspect of our life and living. His love for us lives in us through the washing of Holy Baptism, through the forgiveness of all of our sins, and through His continued presence with us through His Word. As Christ lives in our hearts and lives we are empowered to live lives of hope, joy, peace, and confidence, knowing that we are held in the very palm of God's hand. When we couple "hard work - 98% - the ability which comes from God," "knowledge - 96% - a gift of God to us," and "attitude - 100% - because God has changed our hearts and minds through faith in Christ," and we add them with the "love of God - 101% - for us as revealed in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ we have a the world's greatest winning formula. For it is the power of God's love which makes every good thing happen in our lives and in the lives of others through us. What a blessing we have from God!

Prayer: Father, I know that playing around with numbers and formulas doesn't prove Your love for me or the world in any way shape or form. I realize that nothing can prove Your love except the truth that Christ came into the world to save sinners, including me. Forgive me for so often forgetting that there's nothing I can do or have done to deserve Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness, but that You have done it all for me through Jesus. Help me always look to You for the strength, wisdom, knowledge, attitude, and abilities necessary to live in and through You as a true witness to others of Your redeeming love in Jesus. Father, I pray that You would send Your Holy Spirit upon me in abundant measure to keep me fully assured by faith of the redemption You have given me in Christ, certain that I will be with You in heaven, and confident that You will use every gift and talent You've given me so that I may be a blessing to others and demonstrate the power of Your love in Jesus. In whose precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.