16For 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. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. (John 3)
Thoughts: Nicodemus encounter with Jesus inspired this greatest of Gospel statements. It is a focus on the world and not just on the Jews. It is saying that God doesn't just love one chosen people but the whole world. Yet God had to come into the world through a chosen people. This also is an open invitation to believe. The "whoever" is open to anyone in the whole world. It is a call to all the world to believe in the Son of God who is Jesus the Christ.
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.
Today Christianity is the only religion with adherents in every country in the world. It has people from every language group, every major culture. Efforts are being made to reach people from every tribe.
Prayer: Lord, let me see your care for all the world, and your care for me as a part of that world. Let me take part somehow- by prayers, by giving, by my actions- to reach the world for you.
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