Author: Anthony Wynn
For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 NLT
John 3:16 might be the most familiar verse in the whole bible. It brings the depth of the love of God into focus and captures the heart of God’s plan for humanity. In just a few short phrases, it tells us everything we need to know about who God is, what He has done, and what is expected of us in our relationship with Him.
“For God so loved the world…”
The way this verse begins is powerful and purposeful. It doesn’t begin with us, but with God. Our relationship didn’t begin with God at the point where we chose to follow Him or accept Him. God took the first step and loved us all before we even existed. The word “World” is also brushed over easily.
God doesn’t love a chosen few, or the ones who take steps toward Him. God loves every single person in the world unconditionally. God loves the sinners, the broken, the rebellious, the ones in pain, the ones who are trying their best, the ones who think they have it all figured out without Him, and even the ones who have rejected Him entirely. No one is outside of the reach of God’s love. God loves you as much as he loves me, and just as much as you might believe he loves the most holy among us.
“…that He gave His one and only Son…”
I don’t think enough reflection is given to what it really means for God to give his only Son for us. This is a huge statement. When you really think about it, this is what shows your value to God. Jesus would have died for even just one person (that means you). That means God loves you as much as His own son. God’s love doesn’t have levels. It’s all at the maximum. God loves you deeply and personally. You are a son or daughter of God and he doesn’t weigh His love against your actions. He just loves you full throttle all the time.
“…that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”
This is where people start to try to equate the love of God with our actions, but that’s stealing from Jesus’ sacrifice. Sometimes we put weight on the word “believes” and apply actions we need to take in order to accept God’s love. The only action here is that we need to surrender our own control of our salvation. God loves you. It’s the same as believing that if you don’t take any action to stand on your own, then gravity is going to bring you to the ground. God is drawing you near to Him. This Christmas season, stop trying to overthink your relationship with God and just rest in the fact that you’re loved by the God who created everything.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for loving me so deeply that You gave Your Son for my salvation. Help me to rest my heart and mind in that love. Help me to stop overthinking my own role in how much You love me. Help me to share Your love with others who need to know You. Amen.