16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God” (John 3:16-21, ESV).
John 3:16 is one of the most foundational verses of our salvation. Beginning with God’s love for His people, and the sacrifice of His son paying the penalty for sin giving eternal salvation for those who believe. In a nutshell, verse 16 clearly defines the gospel, because of God’s love we are sinners saved by grace through Jesus. So then why do so many believers struggle knowing God loves them?
God has given women, especially mothers a particular set of skills. One of them being the mom stare. You know the mom stare, when our kids think they can get away with something, mom just stares at her kid and it penetrates right through. The kids may try to cover or mask it, but then comes the first sign of guilt - the laugh! It’s that very second they know they just got caught!! Many of my fellow moms know exactly what I’m talking about.
Realize God’s penetrating light goes much deeper than any mom stare. Jesus is the Light that shines through any darkness and nothing is hidden from Him. The Light shines through any mask or pretense we present to others around us. The Light reaches to the deepest darkest secrets of the soul that are kept hidden for fear of exposure. We may think we can get away with it, but before the eyes of God, each and every single one of us have been caught. Ignoring it or pretending it doesn’t exist, doesn’t change the fact that God knows. When we avoid God or present to Him some mask or pretense, how can we truly know we are loved by Him?
However, when we truly come into the light with God and others, His work is clearly seen and evident in our lives. It’s in those very moments, we have been completely exposed before Him and we know He loves us without condemnation, then we can authentically receive the depth of His love.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your love and sending Jesus that we would not be condemned but saved through Him. May You shine light into the darkness in our hearts, in our lives, and bring us into the Light, so that Your works may be clearly seen. In Jesus Name, Amen.
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