To Be Called His Own

So I was reading John 1:11 today, where John writes that Jesus "...came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him." His own. That's us, you know. I just think that's crazy. God is so holy, so perfect, so powerful, but He's not so high as to be unassociated with us. He calls us "His own."

That's incredible to me. That an all-powerful God would associate Himself with lowly mankind. That we belong to Him. He claims us, even proudly (Job 1:8). It's just mindboggling to think of an unfathomably infinite God desiring connection with us, but not just a shallow, impersonal connection--a deep, intimate relationship. If this weren't true, He never would have sent His Son to die for us.

We are not separated from Him. He is not too far away or above. After all, we are made in His image. How crazy is that?! Think about it: He could have made any creature He wanted. He could have created some majestic unicorn or some towering colossi, and everyone would have agreed that this creature was magnificent. But He put His imprint on us! He personalized us so specifically that He made us in His likeness. Not even the angels can claim this. More than simply putting His stamp of approval on us, like an artist signing their painting, He ingrained within us something so personal and extraordinary we'll probably never fully understand it.

Isn't this why we seek after the things of the world so passionately? It is because our souls, which remember the days before the fall, before we lost that close intimacy with our Creator, cry out for something to fill that void. But without Jesus we simply grasp hold of whatever we can find.

So when Jesus came to this world He became like us--those He calls His own--to bring a light into this blind depravity. Oh, how it must have broken His heart when His own did not receive Him. I think if you want proof of His love, consider the fact that He died in spite of this.

A Love Worth Dying For

I've been listening to Andy Orsow's "Loved by the Son". It's such a beautiful song. The chorus goes like this:

You took my soul and you breathed it to life

And I had no idea I was dead 'til that night

When you reached down your hand

And told me no lies

And I learned what it was to be loved by the Son

I just can't believe that Jesus would save me, that He chose me specifically, individually. He reached down to this pit I was in, this death that would have consumed me forever, and said, "No. I am not content with this. I will not have this."

Who am I that He would die for me?

God's love is so magnificent that it is able to encompass all mankind, yet His love responds to who I am, because He loves me personally, and He chose me.

It's more than just this blanket, general effect. "Alright guys, gather 'round. Okay, I love you all." No. He's like, "I love you, Adrian. And I love you... And I love you... more than you'll ever know. Despite the things you do, and the ways in which you break My heart, I love you. Regardless."

I am significant.

He saw it all. My darkest hours. How far I run away from Him. And He died for me with that knowledge. He said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. If only they knew... if only they knew how much I loved them, how far I'm willing to go to save them, that I would give myself in their place so that they never have to."

That's the kind of love I'm willing to lay my life down for. This love has set me in motion. I will pick up my cross and follow Jesus to the end of my days. I will never look back. I will walk until my legs can no longer carry me and I have exhausted every single heartbeat.

***

How deep the Father's love for us,

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure.

"3D White" Toothpaste

I've been using this Crest "3D White" toothpaste, but I've long since been disappointed with it. I've used several whitening toothpastes in the past, but comparatively this one has given me little results. I know the whole "3D" thing is a gimmick, but I figured it would at least follow through on its whitening promise.

So I ended up using the last little bit of the toothpaste this morning (good riddance), and I'm cleaning my room later and I come across my 3D glasses. I had a good chuckle and decided it would be fun to look at my teeth in the mirror with the glasses on.

Yeah, so apparently -that's- why it's called "3D White": You need 3D glasses to see the full effect.

Long story, short, my teeth were so blazingly white when being looked at through the 3D glasses that I'm now completely and permanently blind (so the doctors tell me) and there are broken pieces of mirror scattered all across the bathroom and embedded into the walls.

David has been kind enough to help me apply for disability online (since I can't see to do it myself). I just hope this won't hurt my chances of getting hired by that valet company I applied for. I really need a job...