The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 6:65,
"This is why I [Jesus] told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them."
Here is one of the most wonderful expressions of the love of God for mankind! I find it breathtaking. God so loves mankind that he has reached out to draw us to himself! He wants to give us eternal life with him!
This statement of Jesus to his listeners follows his line of teaching in this passage. In verse 44 he told them, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day."
The fact is that we are all sinners and not disposed to embrace God within our hearts, hence, he has to provide us some enablement to get us there. We read in Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Also in Romans 3:9b, "For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin."
A big piece of that enablement is the way he draws us to himself, meeting us more than half way to finding him in our hearts. Some have confused this drawing of God to mean God only draws special ones to himself. Not at all. God draws all mankind to himself, "And I [Jesus], when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:32. God wants all mankind! "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4. Likewise in 2 Peter 3:9 we read, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
As I say, God wants all mankind to come to him, but each person needs to make the personal choice to do so. Jesus died for the sins of all mankind, "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:2. However, after doing all the hard lifting, and drawing us to himself, enabling us to make a decision for him, some will and some will still not. "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day." John 6:40. On the other hand, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." John 3:19.
Knowing that God draws us to himself is such an expression for his love of mankind! He gave us his Son, he has given us his invitation (the gospel message), and he has drawn us to himself! What more could we possibly ask for!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"This is why I [Jesus] told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them."
Here is one of the most wonderful expressions of the love of God for mankind! I find it breathtaking. God so loves mankind that he has reached out to draw us to himself! He wants to give us eternal life with him!
This statement of Jesus to his listeners follows his line of teaching in this passage. In verse 44 he told them, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day."
The fact is that we are all sinners and not disposed to embrace God within our hearts, hence, he has to provide us some enablement to get us there. We read in Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Also in Romans 3:9b, "For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin."
A big piece of that enablement is the way he draws us to himself, meeting us more than half way to finding him in our hearts. Some have confused this drawing of God to mean God only draws special ones to himself. Not at all. God draws all mankind to himself, "And I [Jesus], when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:32. God wants all mankind! "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4. Likewise in 2 Peter 3:9 we read, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
As I say, God wants all mankind to come to him, but each person needs to make the personal choice to do so. Jesus died for the sins of all mankind, "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:2. However, after doing all the hard lifting, and drawing us to himself, enabling us to make a decision for him, some will and some will still not. "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day." John 6:40. On the other hand, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." John 3:19.
Knowing that God draws us to himself is such an expression for his love of mankind! He gave us his Son, he has given us his invitation (the gospel message), and he has drawn us to himself! What more could we possibly ask for!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment