“I have always given My best to you. Never have you received less than the finest that all of heaven could offer you. My love for you is more powerful than any wealth in heaven or on earth, so I hold nothing back. When it came time to redeem all of mankind from the nature that everyone legally inherited, the very best was sent to do what was necessary. His Name is Jesus.”

John 3:16 NIV 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 10:17a, 18a AMP

17a) For this [reason] the Father loves Me, because I lay down My [own] life…

18a) No one takes it away from Me. On the contrary, I lay it down voluntarily.

Have you ever seen the movie “Dances with Wolves?” There is one statement in it that has touched me deeply. When Lieutenant Dunbar was getting married, the tribe was generous in supplying him with “payment” for his bride. They would give gifts that he could, in turn, give to “purchase” her. His statement, “The more valued the gift, the more easily it was given,” reminds me of the heart of our Father God. God’s love for us was so strong that only the most valued gift would suffice when He sent a Savior. The perfect sacrifice would not have been complete with anything less. Perfection in its truest form would have been watered down if a lesser gift had been sent.

Jesus, in turn, did the same. He gave His life. There was, again, no greater gift that He, as God, could give for fallen, depraved man. Just consider the astounding imbalance. The life of God was traded for the uncaring, undeserving, rebellious heart of man.

The saga continues to unfold as we continually violate every principle established for us. God gave His best. We, when we are called upon, give what we no longer need or what we have left over. Rarely do you see the newest car given to someone in need rather than the “junker,” or the best furniture instead of whatever was replaced because it was no longer wanted. We even give second best to God, holding back parts of our lives when we have promised Him everything. Somehow, we then have the audacity to demand God’s best for us. Yikes!

Help me, Lord,

Jim Corbett