The Greatest: John 3:16

J. Edwin Hortell explores God's greatness through John 3:16:

God…the greatest Lover


So loved…the greatest degree


The world…the greatest number


That He gave…the greatest act


His only Son...the greatest gift


So that everyone…the greatest invitation


Who believes…the greatest simplicity


In Him…the greatest person




Will not perish…the greatest escape


But…the greatest difference


Have…the greatest certainty


Eternal life…the greatest destiny

J. Edwin Hartill was professor of Bible at Northwestern College for almost four decades, from 1944 until his death in 1981.

7 Things - Reaching The Heavens

I love to meditate on God's goodness and character reaching as far as the heavens. The Psalmists that wrote these words had never flown in planes or seen camera footage from lofty heights. The concept of being up in the clouds was far beyond anything they could imagine. 

This is a picture of the vastness of God's mercy - beyond anything we can imagine!

Here are 7 things that reach the clouds or the heavens - it is interesting that His mercy is mentioned in so many of these verses, and it is His mercy and glory that go even beyond the heavens:

• God's glory is above the heavens - Ps. 8:1 O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens! (Ps. 113:4; 148:13)

• God's judgments are far above - out of sight - Ps. 10:5 His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; As for all his enemies, he sneers at them.

• God's faithfulness reaches the clouds - Psalm 36:5 Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

• God's truth reaches the clouds - Ps 57:10  ...His mercy reaches to the heavens – His truth to the clouds

• God's mercy reaches above the heavens - Ps. 108:4 For Your mercy is great above the heavens, And Your truth reaches to the clouds. (Ps. 103:11)

• God's wonders are in the heavens - Acts 2:19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.

The final one of these seven is the greatest of them all - 

• God's Son, Jesus, is far above all the heaves - Eph. 4:10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.

Psalm 103:11

As high as the heavens are above the earth

that is how vast His mercy is

towards those who fear (worship, obey) Him.

Excellent Ones...

It is interesting to note that the term “excellent” is not often used to described individuals in the Word - so these ones who are excellent are worthy of special observation:

In the Bible we can find three excellent women…

• Ruth 3:11 Ruth—she is known throughout the city as virtuous, excellent, noble, brave, strong. Ruth is excellent in loyalty, faithfulness and Godliness in days of corruption and rebellion. She was a convert from paganism, and she gave up all she knew in order to serve another (Naomi). Not only that, Ruth had to be very courageous in order to leave her home - excellent endurance saw her through to her destination and into history.

• Prov. 12:4 Unknown Woman—she is a crowning joy to her husband. She is earnest and strong in character.

• Prov.31:10 Unknown Woman—she is worth more than rubies, capable, intelligent and virtuous. She is excellent above all others (Pr. 31:29):

Verse 10 – she is valued above rubies

Verse 11 – she is trustworthy

Verse 12 – she is good to her husband all the days of her life

Verse 13 – she is able to work excellently with her hands

Verse 14 – she is excellent with all manner of cooking

Verse 15 – she is a hard worker and a servant to all

Verse 16 – she is a good gardener and enterprising

Verse 17 – she is strong on the inside and the outside

Verse 18 – she is intelligent and industrious

Verse 19 – she is able to spin and weave clothing

Verse 20 – she is kind to those who are poor and needy

Verse 21 – she is brave and properly prepared for all weather

Verse 22 – she is clothed in fine garments, which she has made

Verse 23 – she is represented in the gates of the city by her noble husband

Verse 24 – she is an excellent businesswoman

Verse 25 – she is clothed with strength and honor

Verse 26 – she is wise and kind of speech

Verse 27 – she is responsible and guards her household

Verse 28 – she is honored by her family – those who knew her the best

Verse 29 – she is excellent

Verse 30 – she walked in the fear of the Lord

Verse 31 – she is fruitful and praised in the gates

...one excellent man (no comments)

• Dan. 5:14—The Spirit of God was in him, also light and understanding and excellent wisdom.

...one excellent King...

• Ps. 45:2 Solomon/Christ—You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever (NIV).

The word "excellent," here, means that the excellent one has built the family name.

...and multitudes of excellent Believers...

• Ps. 16:3 Unknown Saints of God—excellent, majestic, glorious, noble ones—The delight of the Lord is in these.
In the NLT He calls them His true heroes: the Godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!

It is fascinating to me that the majority of excellent ones found in the Bible are unnamed. Only Ruth and Daniel are identified by name. We are called to be excellent in God's kingdom - the story of God's excellent ones is still being written - our names need to be added to God's list of those who are excellent! Whatever you put your hand to - do it well - do it excellently as a reflection of the Most Excellent One - Jesus!

More on excellence: HERE and HERE and HERE