For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 25:24 – 26:46

God: The King. The Creator. The One who established the universe with a word and set time in motion. The One with all wisdom, knowledge, power, and authority. The greatest with absolutely no comparison.

So Loved: Despite all this power, despite beyond so beyond us in every power and every virtue, God loves. He is deeply and intimately and passionately concerned for…

The World: You. Me. Everybody. Each and every one of us, are uniquely and passionately loved by this awesome and powerful God. He knows the number of hairs on our heads. He hurts when we hurt, laughs when we laugh, and cries with us in our sorrow. His love is more pure and rich and true than any love we could experience in this world.

That He Gave: Out from God’s love flows a generosity beyond comprehension. Just as parents and lovers long to shower gifts on the objects of their affection so God showered on us the greatest gift of all.

His Only Son: That gift was Himself. Jesus left heaven and came to be born in a barn. He gave up the comforts of heaven to get His hands deep into the muck we have made of this earth. Death was the natural consequence for our sin but Jesus came to pay that penalty for us.

Whoever believes: Because that penalty has now been paid, because that gift has been given, we no longer have to worry about trying to do anything to earn God’s favor or love. We need only to believe, to accept, to acknowledge, that the debt has already been paid.

Will Not Perish: So we won’t have to suffer that penalty ourselves. For those who believe, death is not a finality. It is not the end. It is merely a turning point, a stepping stone to…

But Live Forever: Something far greater and more beautiful and lasting than anything this earth has to offer. We have heaven, we have eternity, we have perfect fellowship with God Himself to look forward to. Eternal life is not just the continuation of a beating heart and functions of the mind. We will come alive in a way so much richer than even the most joy filled experiences on this side could even hint at. We will be like Him, Jesus, God, for we shall see Him as He is.

Respond: