Friday, December 6, 2013

By: Rachelle Hitt Bilbo

Relatable God

1 John 4:19 We love because He first loved us.

A prince wanted to find a maiden suitable to be his queen. One day while running an errand for his father, he passed through a poor section of the local village. As he glanced out of the window of the carriage, his eyes fell upon a beautiful peasant maiden. During the ensuing days, he often passed by the same young lady.

He soon fell in love with her. But ... he had a problem. How would he seek her hand? He could order her to marry him. But ... even a prince desires to have his bride marry him freely and voluntarily and not through coercion.

He could put on his most splendid uniform and drive up to her front door in a carriage drawn by six horses. But ... if he did this he would never be certain that the maiden loved him or was simply overwhelmed with all of the splendor.

The prince finally came up with a viable solution. He would give up his kingly robe. He moved into the village - entering not with a crown but in the garb of a peasant. He lived among the people, shared their interests and concerns, and spoke their language. In time, the maiden grew to love him ... because of who he was ... because he loved her first.
 

In the same way, God sent His son Jesus to be born in a lowly manger. He sent Him to reveal Himself in an understandable, relatable way. He became flesh just like you and me.

I am certain there have been times when you have faced situations in your life in which you have wondered why you were going through these things. You may have verbalized the following: "This should not be happening to me. I worked too hard...I lived obediently...I just don't understand...."

Undoubtably, Jesus - King of Kings as the Bible describes Him - did not deserve to be born into the lowliest of circumstances. However, through His humble beginnings, He was able to relate to mankind AND go on to sacrifice His life to save us all.

I challenge you today to never despise your situation or your circumstance. Instead, look for the opportunity to reach others who may have been previously unreachable.

Evaluate how your life story, your small beginnings or your current state can help you to relate to others in need. We are able to love those who are lost and hurting because God first loved us. Know that what you are going through or will go through is never in vain.

Dear Lord, I want to be a vessel used by you to reach others who are hurting. Despite my circumstances, as long as I have breath, I know I have purpose in You.

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.

*Today's devotion was based on a story that was first recorded by a famous theologian from the 1800s, Soren Kierkegaard.