God loves you AS a son or daughter

An often used quip that I use refers to the word “if”.  “If” a person counted the number of times that if is used in the Bible it would be a phenomenal number.  Obviously, it is only two letters but the reason I say it is the biggest word in the Bible is because it is often followed by the word or concept “then”:  “If” this “then” that.

Today I would like to introduce you to the second biggest word in the Bible: “as”.  Again you find the word “as” all through the Bible but there is one place that particularly stands out.  In fact, it stands out so much that I may need to declare “as” to be the “biggest word in the Bible”; or at least perhaps it should be tied with (equal to) “if”.

Here is the verse I am referring to:

I in them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect (complete) in one;
and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them,
as you have loved me.
John 17:23 

Did you see that? “that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have loved me.”

Let me repeat that… “that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have loved me.”

“that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, AS you have loved me.”

The word “as” here means “just like”.  “that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, JUST LIKE you have loved me.”

Here is how another translation puts it:

You live fully in me and now I live fully in them
so that they will experience perfect unity,
and the world will be convinced that you have sent me,
for they will see that you love each of them
with the same passionate love that you have for me.
John 17:23 

Once you are aware of it you can see this theme runs all through the Bible.  For example “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son”, “God is no respecter of persons” and other verses like this:

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,
that we should be called the sons (daughters) of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 
1 John 3:1

This can be a big bite to swallow so I think that God would have us just leave it there for today.  Think on this.  Meditate on it today and know that you are loved with a far greater love than you could ever imagine.

Have a blessed day.

Dr.Rayphe

Join me M-F at 6::30 AM on “The Morning Watch” at God’s Kingdom Realm Liberty Radio.  www.God’s Kingdom Realm