Pam's Perambulation

How do you show someone that you love them?  You are willing to give up everything that you have got to make their life better.  You would “walk over hot coals”.  You would take on their pain rather than watch them suffer.  You would give up your comfort for theirs.  You would give your all.

John 3:14-21

¹⁴And the Son of Man must be lifted up, just as that metal snake was lifted up by Moses in the desert. ¹⁵Then everyone who has faith in the Son of Man will have eternal life. ¹⁶God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. ¹⁷God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them! ¹⁸No one who has faith in God’s Son will be condemned. But everyone who doesn’t have faith in him has already been condemned for not having faith in God’s only Son.

¹⁹The light has come into the world, and people who do evil things are judged guilty because they love the dark more than the light. ²⁰People who do evil hate the light and won’t come to the light, because it clearly shows what they have done. ²¹But everyone who lives by the truth will come to the light, because they want others to know that God is really the one doing what they do.

God loved the people of this world so much – enough to give his only special son (Tom Wright p 84).  And anyone who believes in what he is doing can share in the new thing God is doing.  God doesn’t want to write us off, he would so much rather save us.  God doesn’t send his son, so that people are condemned, or feel bad about themselves when measured up to him.   Rather he has come to rescue us from ourselves, and give us the opportunity to be part of God’s new work.  There is wrath in God, but that isn’t how he wants to deal with us, he wants to love us, and makes it possible through giving his son.  Everyone who believes in him can receive that.

Photo by Wingchi Poon

Whoever you are, whatever you have or haven’t done – God loves you – yes you!

Today, let that sink in.  God loves you enough to give up everything for you, even his very self, his special son.  Take some time with him, let yourself be wrapped in that love and feel it, let it soak through you, touch you where you need it free you and give his peace.

Thank you God for loving me.

For sending Jesus,

for giving him up,

that we might know your love

and your life.

Thank you Lord

that you are not looking to condemn us,

but save us.

This year, I am again following the Big Read using Tom Wright’s Lent for Everyone – Mark.  I’ll reflect here – if you’re following it too, or even if you’re not, please share with me.

~ by pamjw on March 17, 2012.

Posted in God, Jesus, love
Tags: Bigread12, Jesus, John 3:14-21, love