December 21, 2017 Thursday Week 3 Day 5

“For 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. “Indeed, God did not send the son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” John 3:16–21

            Most people who have any contact with Church know John 3:16 but do you know the “rest of the story”?  I had a member at one of the congregations I served who loved John 3:17 most of all.  He rejoiced in God’s love and even more a love that came to save and not condemn.

            Do you think that God wants to condemn you?  Do you see God as a faultfinder and as a harsh judge?  If you closely look at John 3:16 the rest of the verses above not only make better sense but they help us understand what it means that God loves us.

            Why do so many people see God as not only harsh but even mean?  Jesus reveals that many do not want to see who God is or what God is like because they do not want to come to the Light and have who they are and what they have done to be seen or exposed.

            Jesus came to pay for our sins but for that to happen we must let God reveal our sin so we can confess it to be forgiven. 

            This is what I call the bad news about the Good News.  Only when we are honest and let God’s Light show us how deep our sin is can we not only see how much we need God but also appreciate the depth of His grace.  Only as God reveals the bad news of how bad we really are can we appreciate the wonder of the Good News for us!

            Will you allow the Light of God reveal your bad news so you can be forgiven through the Good News?