luvmy4sons
11-27-2007, 08:30 PM
I get this devotional from time to time. This one made me pause...and say, "Wow. Yeah." Hope it finds you amazed at the love of Christ! :-D
Pause to Ponder Classics
"Nickname"
The interviewer ask the movie star how the ever got the name "Skeet." The man explained that when he was a young boy he played baseball. He played the outfield and was very quick. His coach said that he moved around the outfield like a mosquito. That was reduced to "Skeeto" and finally down to "Skeet." The nickname stuck and he has been know as Skeet since.
Many people have nicknames. I have "dad's special nicknames" for both my daughters. Most often nicknames, like our "given names," are imparted to us by others. Sometimes people make up their own nicknames. No matter how we may get them, nicknames reveal something about the bearer. One of Jesus' disciples gave himself a nickname. We do not know if anyone called him by this name, other than himself. We know his self-given nickname because when he wrote his gospel he never referred to himself by his given name. He only referred to himself by the nickname, "the one whom Jesus loved." (John 13:23; 19:26; 21:2,7,20)
Why would someone give himself such a nickname? Some suggest it was an arrogant haughty nickname. Others consider that John would have never referred to himself that way so it actually referred to someone else. Others think that John didn't write the gospel and therefore, the name was conferred to him by the actually writer. But as you read through John's writings, it becomes apparent why he gave himself this nickname. He was awestruck with the astonishing fact that Jesus loved him. His gospel and epistles gloriously proclaim God's love for us in Christ; "How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us." (1 John 3:1) He defines love, "not that we loved God, but that He first loved us!" and "God is love." (1 John 4:10, 16) No, this is not the nickname of an arrogant soul. It is the nickname of a humble awestruck disciple. John could not think of a better way to be known. He could not find a better definer of who he was. He could not conceive of a better foundation for his self-worth. He could not possess a greater motivation for holy living. He had been captured by the glorious reality that "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
Theologian Karl Bath was once ask by a student what was the most profound thing he had every thought. Without hesitation, this renowned theologian, quietly turned to the chalkboard and wrote: "Jesus loves me." Hymn writer Isaac Watts captured this same wondrous truth and wrote in one of his hymns: "Were the whole realm of nature mine, That we a present far too small. Love so amazing so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all!" Charles Wesley chimed in proclaiming, "Love divine, all loves excelling. Joy of heaven, to earth come down." And hymn writer George Matherson joined in the chorus; "O love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee. I give the back the life I owe, That in Thine ocean depths its flow may richer fuller be."
Beloved, it would not be wise or practical for us to all take the nickname, "the own whom Jesus loved." But it is vitally important, that we never forget this awesome reality, that we live in awe of the glorious fact, and that this wonder of wonders is a defining factor of who and what we are. Indeed, "love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all."
Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry Interested in having Pastor Gerry speak at your church, retreat, activity or Christian Organization? He is now accepting speaking engagements as he is in fulltime itinerant preaching/teaching. For more information and booking check out Pastor Gerry’s ministry web site: HisServantMinistries.org (http://hisservantministries.org/)
A Pause To Ponder God's Word (http://home.pausetoponder.org/) is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome.
Pause to Ponder Classics
"Nickname"
The interviewer ask the movie star how the ever got the name "Skeet." The man explained that when he was a young boy he played baseball. He played the outfield and was very quick. His coach said that he moved around the outfield like a mosquito. That was reduced to "Skeeto" and finally down to "Skeet." The nickname stuck and he has been know as Skeet since.
Many people have nicknames. I have "dad's special nicknames" for both my daughters. Most often nicknames, like our "given names," are imparted to us by others. Sometimes people make up their own nicknames. No matter how we may get them, nicknames reveal something about the bearer. One of Jesus' disciples gave himself a nickname. We do not know if anyone called him by this name, other than himself. We know his self-given nickname because when he wrote his gospel he never referred to himself by his given name. He only referred to himself by the nickname, "the one whom Jesus loved." (John 13:23; 19:26; 21:2,7,20)
Why would someone give himself such a nickname? Some suggest it was an arrogant haughty nickname. Others consider that John would have never referred to himself that way so it actually referred to someone else. Others think that John didn't write the gospel and therefore, the name was conferred to him by the actually writer. But as you read through John's writings, it becomes apparent why he gave himself this nickname. He was awestruck with the astonishing fact that Jesus loved him. His gospel and epistles gloriously proclaim God's love for us in Christ; "How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us." (1 John 3:1) He defines love, "not that we loved God, but that He first loved us!" and "God is love." (1 John 4:10, 16) No, this is not the nickname of an arrogant soul. It is the nickname of a humble awestruck disciple. John could not think of a better way to be known. He could not find a better definer of who he was. He could not conceive of a better foundation for his self-worth. He could not possess a greater motivation for holy living. He had been captured by the glorious reality that "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
Theologian Karl Bath was once ask by a student what was the most profound thing he had every thought. Without hesitation, this renowned theologian, quietly turned to the chalkboard and wrote: "Jesus loves me." Hymn writer Isaac Watts captured this same wondrous truth and wrote in one of his hymns: "Were the whole realm of nature mine, That we a present far too small. Love so amazing so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all!" Charles Wesley chimed in proclaiming, "Love divine, all loves excelling. Joy of heaven, to earth come down." And hymn writer George Matherson joined in the chorus; "O love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee. I give the back the life I owe, That in Thine ocean depths its flow may richer fuller be."
Beloved, it would not be wise or practical for us to all take the nickname, "the own whom Jesus loved." But it is vitally important, that we never forget this awesome reality, that we live in awe of the glorious fact, and that this wonder of wonders is a defining factor of who and what we are. Indeed, "love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all."
Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry Interested in having Pastor Gerry speak at your church, retreat, activity or Christian Organization? He is now accepting speaking engagements as he is in fulltime itinerant preaching/teaching. For more information and booking check out Pastor Gerry’s ministry web site: HisServantMinistries.org (http://hisservantministries.org/)
A Pause To Ponder God's Word (http://home.pausetoponder.org/) is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome.