2nd Week of Easter
God so loved. (John 3:16)
Right here, right now, stop and proclaim it out loud: God so loved.
Everything that proceeds from God originates in love. It is who he is. He loved so much that his love overflowed and spoke creation into existence. It continued to overflow and cascaded onto fallen creation, onto sinful men and women, onto you. God so loves you, and neither sin nor brokenness can obstruct that flow. He wants you to be with him, always and forever. And so, God so loved the world . . . that he gave his only-begotten Son.
He gave his very heart, Jesus, to the world. He sent his Son to be a sacrifice for all the sin that separates us from him—a sacrifice that we could never make on our own. He sent his Son to us so that we might know what love looks like: a love so powerful that it infuses new life into cold or hard or wounded hearts. God so loved that he gave his all, for you . . . so that everyone who believes in him . . . Believe that Jesus died for you, personally. Believe that Jesus loves you even when you feel ashamed or unworthy of his love. Believe that nothing you have done, or failed to do, can ever change that truth. Believe that he will strengthen you in your weakness. Believe that he will forgive your every sin. Believe that his perfect love casts out all fear. Stake your life on it. Consciously choose to believe it, especially in the face of doubt, fear, or failure. God so loves you! So that you. . . might not perish but might have eternal life.
You have nothing to fear. Death no longer has power over you. When your life ends here on earth, God will be right there, ready to carry you to his eternal dwelling place. He will say to you, “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3). You are my delight (Isaiah 62:4). Now enter my kingdom and live forever.”
“Father, thank you for loving me and for sending your only Son, Jesus, so that I might share in your life forever.”
Acts 5:17-26
Psalm 34:2-9
