God Still Loves the World
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Go with me on a journey through one of the most powerful and memorized verses in the Holy Bible. Engage your heart and experience God’s heart as I share three expressions of God’s love for the world.
God’s love, agape love, at its very core means to long for; prefer; take pleasure in; and be full of good-will. Love is a choice, an act of the will. And here are a few ways God has chosen to express His love for mankind from John 3:16…
God’s Love is Divine.
Divine means godlike; above what is human; and extraordinary. Hallelujah! This was and this is no ordinary love. The manner in which the Only True Living God, Creator of the universe, gave His Son Jesus, was supernatural. This holy, sinless Jesus was not and could not be conceived by any natural human method. Jesus came out from God, so He was the Only One of this kind, unique. The supernatural seed conceived in the womb of a virgin girl from the Holy Spirit was a demonstration of God’s divine love and power. God didn’t just give His Son, He gave His Life and His Love. Gave in this verse is defined as an offering, to present as a gift of one’s own will. Jesus was God’s love manifested as a gift offering to the world and for the world. That was Divine Love.
God’s Love is Unconditional.
There is a key word in this verse that puts a smile on my face and warms my heart – Whoever. Yes, everyone and all, no matter who we are, what we look like, or even what we have done, God loves us regardless. His love is inclusive for us all, and has no limitations or bounds. His love reaches beyond borders. God willingly and generously gives His love with no reservations or stipulations; and nothing can separate us from His love. The holiness of God’s nature cannot stop loving us. And we don’t have to do anything for His love; He gives it freely, continuously, and unconditionally. When we truly believe in God’s Son, Jesus Christ Whom He has given, we are positioned to experience an everlasting promise.
God’s Love is Eternal.
Eternal not only means unending, it also means sharing of the character of that which lasts. Glory! So Jesus is saying all who truly believe in Him and surrender our lives to Him, will have the character and quality of God’s life at work in us. We have the benefit of living the eternal life right now, here on earth, and to also live in His Holy Presence forever, that’s a Promise! This is what eternal love looks like – God sharing the essence of Who He is with us, living His life through us, and offering us a love that is abiding and satisfying, a love that never fails. God still loves the world so much that He is always willing to give us all the opportunity to believe and the pleasure to experience the fullness of His Love.
Prayer: May the Truth touch our hearts, open our eyes, and change our lives for the Glory of God, In the Powerful Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Reflection: How are you going to respond to God’s love for you? Selah…