God of the Way, blaze brightly the light of Your love on this dear reader's journey; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from John 3:14 In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up - 15 and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life. 16 "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. 17 God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. 18 Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. 19 "This is the crisis we're in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. 20 Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won't come near it, fearing a painful exposure. 21 But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is." (The Message)
John 3:16 took on a new meaning last night as I watched my first episode of "GCB" on ABC. You all have to pray for me! This is a new series based on a book, according to my daughter, and since she said she was about to watch it, Mom and I joined in. Long distance, of course. The Bible verse is a monogram on the back of a convertible Masarati driven by a "Christian" woman from Dallas. She is anything but Christian, thus making the label of John 3:16 seem bad. John 3:16 for many is the most powerful passage in the Bible. It is a declaration of God's love and purpose for our lives. The King James version is one most of us identify with, "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." It is a passage of hope and it is a passage of transformation. God offers us life, and life eternal, but it begs the question, what do we offer God in return?
May this passage truly transform us into the people that God wants us to be. May it be written of you and me, "For we loved God so much that we gave ourselves to God and to God's people, that they might see in us the love and hope offered us by God."
PRAYER: Loving God, as I and this reader pray this prayer, work in us to make us truly the people that Jesus came for. Jesus loved us so much He died for us. May we love Jesus and You so much that we might die to self and truly bring life to others. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
