Daily Devotional for February 16

 

February 16                                                       John 3:16-21

Immediately after Jesus' discourse about spiritual truth, John
states the central spiritual truth of the Gospel in the sixteenth
verse: "For God so loved the world that God gave God's only
Child, that whoever believes in that Child should not perish
but have eternal life." John's commentary then returns to the
issue of recognizing truth by saying that many could not see
Jesus as the light of the world, that many would not receive
him as Saviour.

Coming to truth, coming to Christ, coming to a personal faith
- these things are more a matter of "seeing" than doing. The
Spirit of God shows Jesus to those who seek. The words of
verse 16 have a way of stopping the reader. I know they do
me. I stop and ask: "Do I believe God loves me? Does Jesus
tell me this?" So often I have read the Gospel account of the
life of Jesus as if I were reading an interesting story that did
not affect me. But if this verse is the central truth of the whole
story, I have to ask the question, "Do I believe this?"

I return to the story in a more personal way, my mind flooded
with questions. It is when my feelings begin to overflow my
thoughts that the truth of the Gospel starts to break through
to me. I need to feel love. I don't want to perish. I want life
eternal. Am I able to grasp what John is talking about? Do I
not recognize who Jesus is? Do I refuse to receive Christ as
Saviour?

I continue to read the Gospel, seeking to know that Jesus is
my Saviour. I know that my faith begins in knowing I am the
one loved by God, that God gave Christ for me. In hearing
John speak to me, I must answer. Now the words are mine:
God loved me so much that God gave Jesus Christ, that I might
believe and not perish, that I might have eternal life. This is
my faith, my testimony.

       Christ, show yourself as God's gift and salvation
 to all who read these words. We seek you here and now.
        My words seek to reveal you. I know you want
              to be known to all. Jesus, I want to add
                          my testimony to John's.

​

From The Road to Emmaus - An inclusive devotional Edited by Joseph W. Houle

Emmaus House of Prayer - Washington D.C.