John 3:16. I would venture to guess that it is one of the most well known verses in the bible.
"For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." {See... I just did that from memory. I didn't even Google it.}
It is an important verse because it is the essence of Christianity. It is the why and the how of Christianity.
Then there is verse 17.
"For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
Not so well known. {This one I had to Google.}
I mentioned earlier this year that God has really been working on my judgmental heart. I have been very consciously trying to love and not to judge.
A couple of weeks ago a friend posted a photo on Facebook that got me thinking. It was a picture of a man holding a sign that said, "As Jesus said about gay people, ' '." I am not trying to start any kind of controversial conversation here, I mention this only to say that it got me thinking about John 3:17.
I believe that the bible is the inspired word of God. I believe it is the truth, and cannot be cut and pasted to suit your desires or ways of life. I believe that we are all sinners in need of a Savior, and that to God, sin is sin. Period. I also believe that there are certain things that are black and white in the bible, and other things that are much more gray, and that faith is about believing even when we don't completely understand.
Having said all that, I go back to my previous paragraph. This photo got me thinking. Jesus really did come into the world with one goal: to save us. To save the lost. And we are all lost.
If Christ, the only perfect human being to ever walk the face of the earth, could live a life of compassion, empathy, understanding, and most importantly love, how can I, a sinner who fails on a daily basis, stand in judgment of others???
I'm going to be meditating on John 3:17 this week. Will you join me?
