Personal Lord and Savior
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John 3:14-21
14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, 15. that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." 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 sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who 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, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20. For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.
Have you ever really spent time trying to fully understand verse 16 and all its implications? On my Emmaus Walk a few weeks ago I was immersed, drenched, blanketed, overwhelmed by the love that can only be freely and joyfully offered by those who understands that verse! I just continue to marvel that Jesus, and his life, his crucifixion and resurrection was the culmination of thousands of years of history! So many faithful men and women waited their entire lives, and never knew Christ. So many people testified to his coming and believed so deeply and strongly that it would happen that they risked their lives to announce his coming!
Light came into the world the day that baby was born. A light that is brighter than sunshine. A light more intense and piercing than a laser. A light that can never be extinguished. “For God so loved the world . . .” He loves you. He loves me. Not just us as members of the human race; not us as occupants upon this earth he created to sustain our lives; not as residents on this planet for a short time and then gone to dust when we die. No he loves me -- Mary. He loves you -- (insert your name here). That’s what happened to me at Emmaus--I did accept Christ as MY personal Lord and Savior.
In truth though, it was not really an act on my part. God, using the Holy Spirit, revealed to me how very much, how deeply and passionately he loves the child he thought of before time began, who he weaved together in my mother’s womb, who grew to be wise and strong and brave. He showed me, in no uncertain terms, that I am on a path he has prepared, and that He will never allow harm to come to me. He cares about my life, and the decisions I make. He is interested in hearing my questions -- though he knows in advance what they will be--He likes me to ask.
The words in scripture are so beautiful and powerful, that I could never more articulately or with more reverence or gratitude, express how humbled and honored and awe-struck I am, that God loves me enough to have sent His son to earth to die on a cross and erase all my sin--even before I sinned! It’s unspeakable! It’s unimaginable! Light has come into my world! And I will never walk in darkness again.
My prayer for you today is that you are able to fathom in small part of your soul and your heart the magnitude of God’s love for you. And that you will bask in the light of your personal Lord and Savior.
Mary
