John 3:16-18
For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. The one who believes in him is not condemned, but the one who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Too often, we do not know what love is; we follow the world’s idea of love and confuse physical attraction with love. So, find the person we consider to be perfect for us. Then our pride gets involved, and we expect them to know our every thought and satisfy all our needs; we want them to serve us. So, this person we are attracted to, we make our spouse and call it love. Perhaps that sounds better than calling them our servants.
You highlight what your love is through Jesus’ words to Nicodemus. Your love was demonstrated by serving us when we were utterly undeserving of being loved. Unattractive and undesirable because of our sin and pride, you should have condemned all of us for our sins; your Word says the soul that sins it will surely die. But your love for the world was demonstrated that you sent your Son to suffer the punishment for all our sins. By believing and having faith in Jesus, our sins are removed, and we are restored to you. Nothing should have attracted us to you; we were loveless towards you, but you chose us; it is entirely by your grace and mercy you love and save us.
By faith—knowing and trusting—what Jesus has done for us, you promise us eternal life and salvation. Let your love for us cause us to love those close to us like you have loved us by serving them and lifting them up when they are down. Jesus has also told us those who do not know him are already condemned, so let that message prod us to share the truth about your love and mercy with them so faith can start in them by hearing the good news of your word. May your Holy Spirit begin faith in them. One final request: please forgive us when we fail at loving others as you have loved us. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
God’s love is so great for people that he wants them to be in heaven with him, so God’s salvational plan was Jesus dying on the cross for all our sins so that by believing and trusting in him, we have eternal life.