God So Loves
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. John 3:16 NKJV
This verse is so familiar to us that we often fail to realize the simplicity of the truth and power of that simplicity. We tend to think that we are nothing but a great big disappointment to Jesus, that He could certainly not love us because He truly does know us. That is the lie of this world and the deception of the enemy of your soul who does not want you to grab hold of the simple, plain and powerful truth of this universal verse.
If we were writing this verse for ourselves and others we would say, “For God was so disappointed with the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” or “Because God had had enough of mankind and of the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” But that is not what it says, is it? That because that is the farthest thing from the truth. It may be what we would think but that is not what God the Father thinks of the world or of you. God gave His Son Jesus because He “so loved” and you need to receive that this is how much He loved and loves you!
God is motivated in all that He does for you by love, not by disappointment or frustration w you. He is motivated by His love for you today as He pours out all of His best for you and your life. It is easy for us to feel like God does not love because of our failures, but the fact is that He loved you while you were yet a sinner. He is love and He is in love with you.
In the midst of the trials of life, we may feel like “Where is His love”? It is always there for you and it is always there with you regardless of your feelings. It is always present with you and even though you may not see it or feel it immediately, it will be evident. In this natural world and all its troubles it may be difficult to always see it, but it is there and His love is not just present with you, it is actually enfolding you.
I like to picture Him with His arms always wrapped around me and loving me with abandon. His arms are wrapped around you in love and there is a smile on His face because He loves you and you are so dear to Him. Even when I do not deserve it, He just can’t help Himself, because He is love and so he loves me. One of the Pastors in my life was a big man and when he would see me from a distance he would stretch his arms out wide inviting me to come into his embrace. I am a small man and he was a large man so when he would hug me I felt like I was enfolded and surrounded by the wrap of his love. This is the way I see Jesus with me every day and the way you should Jesus with you. For God so loves you that He gave His very best in Jesus so you could enjoy the fullness of His love.
J Todd Hostetler