Sunset

The Beauty of Sunsets

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For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV

Unless there is an eclipse going on we will never see folks flocking to the shore to snap photos of the sun at noon. That’s because at noon the sun is way too bright for all but the most expensive camera lenses to capture and it’s just so ordinary. But come sunset, especially if there are clouds on the horizon, people wait with anticipation for the first colors of sunset as the sun slowly descends into the sea.

In that same way, the love of God in Christ was far too brilliant for most of His followers to receive while Jesus was healing the sick or calming seas. But at the cross as Jesus suffered and His body was wracked with agonizing pains the beauty of sunset dimmed by clouds began to be seen by unlikely candidates. One thief on a cross next to Jesus repented and received the promise of heaven. A Roman executioner believed and a young disciple was entrusted with the protection and care of Jesus’ own mother. In the sunset of His life on earth Jesus died in my place, paid the full price for our salvation and drew even fearful followers out of hiding to place Him in the tomb. How humble and kind of our Lord that He would allow Himself to die that we could see the beauty of His love in His sunset hours on Calvary!

The Lord My Light

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The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 ESV

Did you ever stop to think of God’s light in our life at different times of the day? There is the light of dawn when He awakens us with excitement for the new day ahead. He shines brightly at noon so we can see every detail clearly of the work He has given us to do.

He shines softly revealing all the spectrum of His beautiful plan as our sun sets.

And yet there is even another light when darkness has fallen and that is the eternal and unchanging faithful light of the stars he has made. At all times and every season Jesus remains the light of our life and salvation!

Measuring God’s Love

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How can we measure the limitless love of God? Paul gives us some dimensions for us to consider and that got me to thinking.

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19 ESV

So just how wide is the breadth of God’s love? John tells us it stretches to the widest horizon: For God so loved the world that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3:16

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And how long is its farthest limit? Jeremiah raises his hand to answer:

The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Jeremiah 31:3

And how height is it’s loftiest peak? Isaiah reminds us that it is higher and holier than we can imagine and yet God welcomes us there when we seek Him. Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,  who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:“I dwell in the high and holy place,  and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

And when we ask how we can measure the depth of the heart of God almighty? Paul answers back: For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39