«We love Him because He first loved us» (l John 4: 19).
THIS AFTERNOON WE WILL READ our favorite passage from the Scriptures,» the teacher said to his students as he smiled. The children, Harry and Richard, did not ask what this passage was because they already knew it: «We love him because he first loved us.»
«For a while, I thought that salvation was not for me,» he told them, «because I didn’t feel like I loved God. But these precious words showed me that God does not love us because we love Him. No, no. We love Him because He loved us first. There is a big difference!
The teacher who spoke in that way was William Tyndale, one of the great leaders of the Reformation in England; he is best known for his translation of the New Testament into English.
According to Frank Boreham, that afternoon, after reading and commenting on his favorite passage, Tyndale announced to his two students that he would not be teaching them any longer. When they asked why, he explained that he had to travel to London where he planned to do a work God had given him to do: publication of the Scriptures in the language of the people. «It’s time for ordinary people to read the Bible in their own language,» he told them. He added, «If God lets me, one day I will make it possible for the boy who handles the plough in England to know more about the Scripture than the prelates and priests themselves.»
He traveled to London, but all he found was opposition. Tyndale then moved to Germany where, in 1526, the first edition of the New Testament in English was published. The reformers dream was fulfilled, although at a very high price. In 1527, his works were condemned, and Tyndale was excommunicated and persecuted. In May 1535, he was captured and imprisoned. In October 1536, Tyndale was tied to a stake, strangled, and finally, burned. His last words were «Lord, open the eyes of the King of England! »
His voice had been silenced, but by the time of his death «even the boy who handled the plough in England knew more about the Scriptures than the prelates and priests themselves.
How could a man who did not feel that he loved God during part of his life die because of love for Him? Because one blessed day, he understood that God does not love us because we love Him, but «we love Him because he first loved us.» There is a big difference!
Lord, open my eyes today so that I may understand that You loved me long before I loved You! And help me share Your incomparable love with others.
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2022
“GREAT IS OUR GOD!”
From: FERNANDO ZABALA
Collaborators: Xiomara Perdomo & Angelica Cuate
