God so loved
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
This is probably the most awesome verse in the Bible. Unfortunately, it is used and posted on billboards so much that we tend to read over and even neglect it. Like many of you I learned it at such a young age that I never really got the meaning of it. I was just able to quote it from memory. Even when I was a little older and memorized the entire third chapter of John, I still never really got it. Then one day God said it to me on the inside of my heart.
It was at a time when I was getting back on track with God. I was feeling particularly bad about myself one day and I remember asking myself “Why would Jesus die for me? I have made such a mess of things and have never done anything for Him.” That’s when I heard it on the inside . . . Because, God so loved you! Suddenly, my eyes were open, and I could see. “OOOHHH, now I get it.” God loved the world (me when I was lost) so much that He gave up Jesus (His only Son) for me while I was still a sinner! Because I was so messed up, I couldn’t help myself or live a perfect life. That’s why Jesus died so I could live and have a relationship with God. Not because of some good work I had done. It was because of His God work on the cross. Even though this was over 20 years ago, it was a brand-new revelation to me at the time and has stuck with me ever since. Every time I hear or read this verse now, I automatically remember that moment in time when God made it real to me. I love this entire chapter and meditate on it often. There is so much revelation in it that He speaks something new to my heart every time I read it.
Today I want to encourage you to meditate on this verse until it becomes so real to you on the inside. Begin to thank God for the great gift of His Son paying the penalty for you so that you can come to God and talk to him at any time of day or night. Remember that it is because of His great love that He rescued you from the pit of sin and get so excited about that love that you start sharing it with others where ever you go. Our God is an awesome God and He wants all people to know that He loves them oh so much!
Today’s scripture reading: John 3:1-21
1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?
11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
The Daily Dose 