Day 40 - 40 Days of HOPE

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of HOPE
Day  40 | HOPE IN A SINGLE VERSE
HOPE IN A SINGLE VERSE

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”


The prolific Christian author and Pastor, Max Lucado, wrote a book simply entitled: 3:16 – The Numbers of HOPE.  I agree… they are.

Sometimes, it helps to look at an overly familiar verse by examining it phrase by phrase.

For God – the Creator of and greatest power in the universe.

So loved – only God could have shown this sacrificial agape love to us like He did.

The world – that means ALL of us.

That He gave – ONLY God could have done that.

His only begotten Son – the ultimate gift, His Son.  (I couldn’t have done that.)

That whosoever believes in Him – this invitation to HOPE is open to ALL, no matter what. And as I’ve preached, “all means all… and that’s all, all means.”

Shall not perish – To perish is what we all deserve. But only by God’s grace and mercy do we have a way of escape.

But have everlasting life – the amazing gift of this extravagant love of God towards us, eternal life in heaven with God.

I also like the next verse, John 3:17 – “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Too often, people who are not yet Followers of Jesus push back against God and faith in Christ because of some misguided belief that God is only interested in punishing and condemning.

  These verses show clearly that God is not like that.  Out of LOVE, He has done everything necessary for us to have eternal life. And it’s available for the taking.

Prayer: LORD, thank You for doing ALL that was necessary for me – and everybody – to have a permanent relationship with You.  I am so thankful for ALL You have done. Amen.