Daily PresenceНамуна

As I was looking through today’s reading, I came to John 3:16—it seems like everyone can quote the reference, if not the verse itself. In fact, it was easy for me to just skim over the verse as I know it so well. It can become an automated response when we encounter the verse. Just like when we are getting off the phone with a loved one-- “love you” “love you, too” or something similar. It’s not that we don’t mean it, but can we move into places where we do things out of habit without really thinking about it? Maybe you haven’t read John 3:16 before or maybe you haven’t read the verse in a while. Take a moment to pause and really let it sink in. “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). God loved you so much—yes you. There are no exceptions in this verse. It doesn’t say God so loved those who don’t murder, who don’t cheat on taxes or any other exception. God loved the world (and those in it—you). He loved you so much that He gave His one and only son. I am a father of 4 boys, and I love them dearly. I want to follow Jesus and love people, but I am telling you right now, I would not give up one of them for other people. Truthfully, I don’t think I would let them get hurt in any way just for someone else’s benefit. It’s hard to comprehend that magnitude of love. It doesn’t matter that the Father knew Jesus wouldn’t be held in the grave. To endure the cross and everything else that went into it—it speaks of a love greater than we understand. Finally, if we believe in Him, we shall not perish but have eternal life. A sacrifice so great could only create a victory so great. The idea that it will last forever is a little beyond me. Someday the stuff that weighs us down will be gone forever, and we will be with the One who loved us far more than we ever understood. We need to really let this verse grab us for the first time, all over again!