Wednesday September 10th, 2014 John 3:13-17
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son?" (verse 16a)
What a great verse, probably ranks up there with Psalm 23 as the most known and most loved of all Bible verses. But it is a message that sometimes gets lost. Jesus goes on to say that God didn’t send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save it. And that is where we get all twisted.
If God is not going to be “man enough’ to judge those who need judging, we’ll have to do it. Yes, sir, there are folks who are just too nasty, dirty, sinful and disgusting to be part of God’s people. They had better pull up their socks, throw off their sin before they come knocking.
Well, it doesn’t work that way. The only way we can, notice the “we,” pull up our socks is to be in the presence of Jesus. Only when God’s love penetrates my sinful heart, when God’s mercy washes over me, will my sin be thrown off, and that by God and not me.
When we see someone whom we deem too nasty, dirty, sinful and disgusting, we need to invite them in, love them in Jesus’ name, bring them right to Jesus’ feet.
After all, that is how we got in.
Loving Jesus, may we love others as you love us. Amen. — DAB
Contributed by To Love not To Condemn
What a great verse, probably ranks up there with Psalm 23 as the most known and most loved of all Bible verses. But it is a message that sometimes gets lost. Jesus goes on to say that God didn't send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save it. And that is where we get all twisted.
If God is not going to be "man enough' to judge those who need judging, we'll have to do it. Yes, sir, there are folks who are just too nasty, dirty, sinful and disgusting to be part of God's people. They had better pull up their socks, throw off their sin before they come knocking.
Well, it doesn't work that way. The only way we can, notice the "we," pull up our socks is to be in the presence of Jesus. Only when God's love penetrates my sinful heart, when God's mercy washes over me, will my sin be thrown off, and that by God and not me.
When we see someone whom we deem too nasty, dirty, sinful and disgusting, we need to invite them in, love them in Jesus' name, bring them right to Jesus' feet.
After all, that is how we got in.
