Today’s WORD (Text) John 3:16-17
16/ For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17/ Indeed God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Today’s Witness
God’s Radical Love. I have been sitting with the thought of the radical, if not extreme character of God’s love for the entire world. God’s love for humanity was so immense, fierce, inclusive, unconditional, and persistent that God sacrificed a member of God’s own family to resolve any differences or any balanced owed to repair the estrangement between God and humanity. God’s Word, the Voice, the logos that had journeyed with humankind from the beginning of time assumed a human body in order to settle a human debt for the purpose of extending all human life. This text shows that God did not turn away from human beings when confronted by sin. Rather, God turned toward humanity, and came to live side by side with humanity in the face of our estrangement in order to walk us back to reunion. Jesus’ purpose in coming to the earth was to save us, not condemn us. Jesus’ ongoing purpose through the mission of the church is to save the world, not to condemn it. As Christians, we have to lead with love for all those who are estranged, marginalized, underserved, kicked to the curb, and valued as less than. Ultimately, our Gospel must bring hope, reunion, restoration, and uplift to an unchurched world, or else it is no Gospel at all.
Today’s Invitation
How different might the most devastated, impoverished, and neglected communities in our nation look if the church were to approach these same communities as the starting point for practicing and perfecting God’s radical love? Help us to make decisions in our relationships with others that affirm their sacred worth, no matter how estranged we may be from therm.
Today’s Prayer
Dear God, our nation and world are in distress because so often we are incapable of loving one another as you loved us. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Teach us how to love you and others. Teach us to practice unconditional love toward others, and to keep alive the hope that unity in community as children of God is possible.
The Passionary Intention
Today, I choose to live my life with passion. Today, I intend to follow Christ more nearly, love more dearly and incarnate God’s grace more clearly by asking myself three questions:
- Where will I follow Christ today?
- To whom shall I demonstrate Jesus’ love and justice today?
- How can I play my part in practicing the presence of Christ, right here, right now?
The Passionary Movement Word and Witness devotion is published weekdays (Monday – Friday). Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, Executive Director of American Baptist Home Mission Societies is the author of today’s devotion.
Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash
Today’s WORD (Text) John 3:16-17
16/ For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17/ Indeed God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Today’s Witness
God’s Radical Love. I have been sitting with the thought of the radical, if not extreme character of God’s love for the entire world. God’s love for humanity was so immense, fierce, inclusive, unconditional, and persistent that God sacrificed a member of God’s own family to resolve any differences or any balanced owed to repair the estrangement between God and humanity. God’s Word, the Voice, the logos that had journeyed with humankind from the beginning of time assumed a human body in order to settle a human debt for the purpose of extending all human life. This text shows that God did not turn away from human beings when confronted by sin. Rather, God turned toward humanity, and came to live side by side with humanity in the face of our estrangement in order to walk us back to reunion. Jesus’ purpose in coming to the earth was to save us, not condemn us. Jesus’ ongoing purpose through the mission of the church is to save the world, not to condemn it. As Christians, we have to lead with love for all those who are estranged, marginalized, underserved, kicked to the curb, and valued as less than. Ultimately, our Gospel must bring hope, reunion, restoration, and uplift to an unchurched world, or else it is no Gospel at all.
Today’s Invitation
How different might the most devastated, impoverished, and neglected communities in our nation look if the church were to approach these same communities as the starting point for practicing and perfecting God’s radical love? Help us to make decisions in our relationships with others that affirm their sacred worth, no matter how estranged we may be from therm.
Today’s Prayer
Dear God, our nation and world are in distress because so often we are incapable of loving one another as you loved us. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Teach us how to love you and others. Teach us to practice unconditional love toward others, and to keep alive the hope that unity in community as children of God is possible.
The Passionary Intention
Today, I choose to live my life with passion. Today, I intend to follow Christ more nearly, love more dearly and incarnate God’s grace more clearly by asking myself three questions:
The Passionary Movement Word and Witness devotion is published weekdays (Monday – Friday). Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, Executive Director of American Baptist Home Mission Societies is the author of today’s devotion.
Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash