The following devotional was provided by Pastor Jim…<\/p>\n
PLEASE READ<\/span>: John 3:16<\/a><\/span><\/span>\n“For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n John 3:16 was the very first Bible verse I memorized as a child. I was only 5 years old and it was during a 2-week Vacation Bible School. I earned a red book mark which had all of the books of the Bible written on it. I remember being so proud and how proud my parents were that I memorized my first verse of Scripture. Perhaps John 3:16 was the first verse of Scripture you memorized as well. Along with Psalm 23 (and possibly Matthew 6:9-13–The Lord’s Prayer) it is probably the most known of all the verses in Scripture. But have we ever really thought about those precious words which Jesus spoke and The Apostle John recorded?<\/p>\n Jesus said, “For God so loved the world\u2026<\/span>” (John 3:16a).<\/p>\n The word “so” indicates the depth of God’s love. It describes the manner of God’s love for all humanity. It is a deep love that motivated God to send His Son, Jesus, to be born into human history, live a perfect sinless life, die on a cross for the lost, and then be raised again on the third day. This is not a “human” kind of love as we might describe it! This is God’s love! It is a love which is undeserved and unconditional.<\/p>\n In the verse notice the object of God\u2019s great love: the world. By its very definition, this love is no ordinary love! It is a special love that seeks to give itself away on behalf of others. Of course, this should not surprise us, after all, to love is the very nature of God as we are taught in 1 John 4:8, 16…<\/p>\n Jesus said, “For God so loved the world\u2026<\/span>” (John 3:16a).<\/p>\n FRIENDS, you just have to face this undeniable fact, God loves YOU! AND because God loves you and me and all of humanity God “sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life<\/span>” (John 3:16b).<\/p>\n When God saw the human family unable to bridge the gap in our fractured relationship with Him, God sent Jesus to do what we could not do ourselves. God did this because, like a loving parent, God could not bear to see us suffer or be separated from Him any longer. Jesus came into the world and lovingly demonstrated how far He is willing to go because He loves us so much! AND as He was nailed to that cross with arms extended wide He again shows us how much He loves us and how He longs for our embrace. And because of that love, we are never out of God’s loving reach!<\/p>\n Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life<\/span>” (John 3:16). Thanks be to God for Jesus and His love.<\/p>\n Pastor Jim<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +<\/span><\/p>\n\n
\nSisters and Brothers, regardless of the curve balls life may have delivered or are delivering to you, you need to know today that God loves you!<\/strong> No one is beyond the scope of God’s love! The greatest thought to grip the human mind is this: “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so!<\/span><\/em>” Consider such verses as Romans 8:38-39<\/a><\/span>, \u00a0 Romans 5:8<\/a><\/span>, or\u00a0 Genesis 50:20<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\nShalom,<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n