"God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have eternal life." (John 3:16)
As we continue our reflections on this past Sunday's sermon, let us allow ourselves to be captured, confronted, and challenged again by the love of God.
Pastor Sam reminded us that this love of God is marked by amazing sacrifice. God gave His greatest gift: The Father tore Himself apart and sent His Son to the earth. There was no other gift so valuable, so precious, and so dear to the heart of God than Jesus. And, God's gift is an indication of how deeply God loves the world.
Who would offer a costly, one-of-a-kind gift to all people? Only God! This is what God does: He gives His best. He pours His love. He reveals His truth and opens the door to eternal life, so that the people all over the earth can realize the greatness of His love.
Sadly, though, and I speak primarily of the church, there is the disturbing possibility of hanging out in the presence of the Giver without ever opting to receive the gift He has offered. As Pastor Sam noted, this is not an issue of giving mental assent to the presence of the Giver and the value of the gift. Our hearts have to be involved. Our lives have to be involved. Saying 'yes' to God's offer of life in Jesus is not merely a word from our mouths: the authentic 'yes' is an experiential yes. It is found in our behavior, our lifestyle choices, our spiritual disciplines, and our inner character.
Clearly, we are loved.
But, are we in love?
Lord God, thank You for loving me. I love You too: not just with my words, but with every area of my life.
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