John 3:16 God's Gift to Me

Romans 6:23 

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

New International Version (NIV) www.BibleGateway.com

   If you have ever memorized a verse of Scripture, most likely it is John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." It is the verse most often heard in the simplicity and beauty of a little child's voice proudly reciting it from memory. And it is the verse most often whispered by aged saints as they breathe their last breaths. It is the entire gospel in a nutshell.

   John 3:16 speaks of the cause of this great salvation: "For God so loved..." The single motivating factor behind God's entire redemptive plan is His love for you and me. This beloved verse also speaks of the cost of this salvation: "He gave His only Son." Jesus paid a high price to redeem us to Himself-death on a Roman cross outside the city gates of Jerusalem. And salvation's condition? "Whosoever believes in Him..." That speaks of me. It speaks of you. And any and all may come, placing their faith in Him alone. Finally, this verse speaks of salvation's consequence: We "shall not perish but have everlasting life." Those without Christ are perishing. . . a little more each day.

   Let God love you today as you meditate on this old and oft-repeated promise.

CODE WORD: GIFT

What do you do to get a gift? You don't earn it or deserve it. Someone who loves you very much gives it freely to you, and all you have to do is receive it. God's gift of eternal life, although purchased at great expense, is a free gift. Your part? Receive it by faith.

A PASSION: PROCLAMATION

The gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

Lord, thank You for loving me even when I am so unloving Your love has no boundaries. I receive Your unconditional love right now by faith. In Jesus' name, amen.

Hawkings, O.S. The Easter CODE: A 40-day Journey to the Cross. Thomas Nelson: Nashville. 2019. page 60-61.

Praying God's Desires

Colossians 1:9-12

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

New King James Version (NKJV)https://www.biblegateway.com

   As Christians, we all long to make necessary changes in our life so we'll become more like Jesus. And we're also concerned about the spiritual growth of fellow believers - especially our loved ones. But trasformation doesn't come about by trying harder or putting Bible verses on sticky notes in hopes that family members will read them and shape up. The most powerful resource we have is prayer, and Paul has given us a pattern that is Christ-centered and specific.

   Too often, believers pray without giving much thought to what God wants to do in a person's life. Instead, we focus on our own ideas regarding what He should do. How much more effective our prayers would be if we prayed according to God's will by using His Word as our source for requests.

   The prayer from Colossians 1 focuses on the heavenly Father's desires for His children. When we go before the Lord and substitute our own name or the name of a friend or family member for "you" in versus 9 and 10, we are praying His specific will for that person. The Lord delights in responding to requests that someone be filled with knowledge of His will and walk in a manner pleasing to Him.

   However, we must be careful not to think of this prayer as a magic charm. It doesn't work that way. These godly qualities take time to develop in a life. And if we are praying these things for ourselves, we must avail ourselves of the means God has provided for our sanctification or transformation - namely, His Word. If we want to know and understand God's will, we should ask Him and search the Bible.

Stanley, Charles F. "Praying God's Desires." In Touch: Daily Readings for Devoted Living. InTouch.org: Atlanta. April 2019, page 9