As a birthday gift to my husband, we’re going to look at one of his favorite verses – John 3:17.
You read that right. Not John 3:16 like you see on all of the signs at sports events, but John 3:17.
Yes, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16), but we miss the point if we don’t read on a little more.
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17)
In this world filled with hate, judgment, and accusation, we forget that our faith isn’t one of rejection and separation, but one of hope and salvation. Ours is a faith of forgiveness and life, not grudges and death.
When we share it that way, it draws people in. When we live it that way, people want to be a part of it. It’s not that people don’t do anything wrong – we all get things wrong on a daily basis. It’s that we have a faith that knows that God loves us enough to help us turn back.
Let’s live like we believe it.
(Happy birthday, my love!)
