The world is a mighty big place, and it is easy to get lost in it. You might feel anonymous among the masses and unnoticed amidst the noise. But God cuts through it all, reaching out to each one of us individually. You see, to God, the world is not a huge mass of humanity, but a glorious collection of unique and treasured individuals—and that includes you!
“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 3:16 (NIV)
John 3:16 is probably the most familiar, most widely quoted scripture in the entire Bible. Familiarity can sometimes render something common, causing us to take it for granted. Since this passage expresses the fundamental truth about God's plan for salvation, we certainly don't want that to happen! There are three primary concepts in the passage – love, life, and God's Son. Let's explore these concepts and see if we can renew the power of this passage.
The Bible tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8). He is the wellspring from which love flows. Love never ends (1 Corinthians 13: 7,8). It is eternal, as is God. So when God so loved the world, He didn't just perform a kind act a long time ago, but in fact continually pours Himself out for us.
The Bible also tells us to accept God's love and love Him in return (1 John 4:19). In other words, since God loves you, love Him back! It works much like an electric circuit. When the circuit is broken, electricity will not flow. It's the same with love. When we love God in return, the circuit is complete, and there is an endless flow of love between us and God (John 14:21). The Bible says we return God's love in two ways – directly, by loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and indirectly, by loving others (Matthew 22:36-40). When we return His love, we become the embodiment and expression of God's very nature. It sounds like an amazing place to be doesn't it? It is!
It's called life. God invites us to have it!
But alas, our circuit is broken. The break in our circuit is caused by sin. Because we sin, we break the circuit that makes love and life possible. Sin and death go hand in hand (Romans 6:23a). That's the bad news. But here's the Good News! God has made a way to complete the circuit! The way is Jesus, God's only Son (Romans 6:23b). If we believe in Him, we can complete the circuit.
Believing in Him looks like this:
1. We admit that we sin.
2. We ask God to forgive us for our sins.
3. We decide to turn away from our sins and seek to stop
2. We ask God to forgive us for our sins.
3. We decide to turn away from our sins and seek to stop
sinning.
4. We completely trust that Jesus came to earth to restore
4. We completely trust that Jesus came to earth to restore
love and life to us – to repair the break in the circuit.
5. We completely trust and openly proclaim Jesus as the Lord
5. We completely trust and openly proclaim Jesus as the Lord
of our life.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 over and over again, every day!
6. Repeat steps 1-5 over and over again, every day!
That's the truth.
For God pours out His endless loving nature upon you by giving His one and only Son for you, that if you believe in Him, you shall no longer be dead but you shall be truly alive, an active part of the embodiment and expression of God's loving nature now and for all eternity.
That's the YouTruth. For God So Loves You.
Copyright 2011 Dan Buckhout
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