Manna in the Morning God's Love Letter
E.A. Johnston illustrates that the Bible is God's priceless love letter to humanity, revealing His immense love through the gift of His Son.
In this devotional sermon, E.A. Johnston beautifully presents the Bible as God's priceless love letter to humanity. Using the metaphor of a jade necklace with hidden messages, he reveals how the 66 books of the Bible collectively express God's immense love through the gift of His Son. Johnston encourages believers to immerse themselves in Scripture daily and to share the message of salvation with others.
Full Transcript
Hello friends, this is Manna in the morning, and our devotion today is God's love letter. Our scripture passage is found in the Gospel of John in chapter 3 and verse 16. We see in God's word, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
There was an Englishman who traveled frequently to India for business, and while visiting a street bazaar in Calcutta, he purchased an inexpensive jade necklace for his little eight-year-old girl. After she wore it a few days, the metal clasp broke, and he took it to a London jeweler to be repaired. A week later, the man returned to pick up the necklace, and the jeweler emerged from a back room, holding the necklace with a big grin on his face, and he inquired, May I ask you, sir, how much you paid for this jade necklace? The man replied, Twenty pounds, nothing more.
The jeweler smiled and said, Look into this magnifying glass. See the letters carved on each piece of jade? It is French lettering. When you lay these sixty-six pieces of jade side by side, they form a love letter, from Napoleon to Juliet.
This jade necklace is priceless. Listen, friends, the Bible is comprised of sixty-six books, and they form a love letter from God to us, and they're priceless, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. Let's spend more time in God's love letter more often.
Great God, thank you for your word. Thank you for your son. May we share this love letter with the dying world about a Savior who came down here so we can go up there.
It is in the strong name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to the concept of 'Manna in the Morning'
- Presentation of John 3:16 as the key scripture
- Explanation of God's love through the gift of His Son
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II
- Illustration of the jade necklace and its hidden message
- Comparison of the necklace to the Bible's 66 books
- Emphasis on the Bible as God's priceless love letter
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III
- Encouragement to spend more time reading God's word
- Call to share the message of salvation with others
- Closing prayer acknowledging God's love and salvation
Key Quotes
“The Bible is comprised of sixty-six books, and they form a love letter from God to us, and they're priceless.” — E.A. Johnston
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son.” — E.A. Johnston
“May we share this love letter with the dying world about a Savior who came down here so we can go up there.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Dedicate daily time to reading and meditating on the Bible as God's love letter.
- Recognize and appreciate the depth of God's love revealed through Jesus Christ.
- Actively share the message of salvation with those around you.