If it was not for God’s gift of love… all our hope is in you.
John 3:16 ESV 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
As I think about this time of year, the journey takes me through Thanksgiving, which leads to the Advent season, Hanukkah, and Christmastime. I find myself thinking more about John 3:16 and a song by Chris Tomlin titled Jesus Messiah. Both the scripture and the song point to the thought that if it were not for God’s love, we would be totally at loss in this world. In life, we have physical signs of love. I know my wife loves me because she tells me and shows me signs of affection. Same with my children, my grandchildren, and even my colleagues and friends. With them, we have the words and the warm hug, a gift from someone special in our lives, that becomes a comfort and assurance of love. But do you know you are loved by God?
The Apostle John reminds us of the gift of love in the first part of John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” that God’s love is immense and a sacrificial love. God’s love is beyond physical love, straight to an unconditional agape love—God’s love. This love is more than a feeling. God always has and always will love you, no stipulations, no strings attached. God’s love is eternal, no matter what you have done or will do. The second half of the scripture, “…that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,” completes the gift of love in an agape relationship that is unconditional. Pieces of Chris Tomlin’s song, “He became sin who knew no sin. That we might become His righteousness. He humbled himself and carried the cross. Love so amazing, Love so amazing…Jesus messiah, name above all names, Blessed redeemer, Lord of all… all our hope is in you…the light of the world.” (Tomlin 2008)
God did give his son because he so loved us. There is no less, no more you need to do. It is a relationship God gives us. God gave this gift through His son, Jesus, the Messiah, Emmanuel. We must accept and believe. God’s goal in this for you is to offer His salvation of eternal hope. It is blind faith that we
fully trust and believe that God loves you. With the gift of love that we receive, we, in turn, are responsible for sharing that agape love with all around us. Sharing that love by our personal testimony of faith and trust in the God who so loves us through His son.
We pray: God our Father. God the Son. God the Holy Spirit. As we receive your agape love that you gave us through your Son, we know by faith and the hope that we are a child of the Most High God. Help us to impart this love to a world that needs the light. We thank you for giving the Gift of love to me, to us. If it was not for God’s gift of love… all our hope is in you…
Chaplain Cade Clarke