A SOUL FOR A SOUL
‘For this is how much God loved the world — he gave his one and only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life.’ John 3:16
I’m still laid up but thank God I don’t have a fever and my energy is pretty good. My raw egg, orange juice smoothies have been doing pretty good thus far. My cough is more frequent — but manageable. Going to attack it some more today. As for wifey, her meds seem to be working. She has more energy, less coughing — which is good. In this together during #coronavirus quarantine.
If you have a child, would you ever consider exchanging your child’s life for the life of another? As I think about it now, it seems pretty f’d up. I don’t see under any circumstance that I would do such a thing.
Brings me back to the film Endgame when Black Widow exchanges her life for Hawkeye. Before sacrificing her life, Red Skull says in the creepiest voice ver to Black Widow, “a soul for a soul”. That is what it took to capture another infinity stone and save the world from Thanos.
Fast forward to March 29, 2020, and we are living in one of the largest scale disasters in our lifetime. Covid-19 has captured our attentions. We don’t know how it all plays out. We don’t have testing in California. NYC is in shambles with more and more deaths. It’s pretty f’d up at the moment.
So when I read the infamous John 3:16, it can be hard to understand the full scope of what Jesus was saying. In the current state of affairs, it’s easy to question God and say things like, “if you love us, why don’t you save us?”
‘“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the L ord . “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts higher than your thoughts. ‘ Isaiah 55:8–9
We don’t know what God knows, period. We only know what we know. That is a hard reality to face when it comes to a relationship with God. It’s also where the tension of trust truly is perfected.
Can you trust someone without knowing all the details?
If you were to do anything today, my suggestion is to read the whole chapter of John 3. It starts off with Nicademus. He’s asking Jesus questions. Jesus is trying to give him solid answers, but Nicademus is just not getting it. This is when he unloads John 3:16 on him.
Let me close today out by putting a challenge your way. The challenge is this: Think about all that God has done for you and what you are thankful for. Go through all the details of this year and previous years. Just meditate on the facts of God’s faithfulness to you.
Nothing else.
Let’s pray:
Jesus, thank you for salvation. Help me to see your faithfulness in my life. Show me areas where I need to be better. I don’t know everything — you do — so help me. Amen.
