Sunday Reading: John 3:16-17
Key Verse: John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Key Verse: John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Devotion:
I don’t think I will ever get tired of reading or saying out this verse! It was the first verse that I learned at church and it has stuck with me ever since. The priest who taught it to me did try to explain what it meant, but I never quite got the explanation; not until I heard the gospel explained a bit better and learned that my sins were keeping me away from God. That was when that verse began with a whole new meaning to me. I can remember a senior at school giving us a short lesson on just how much love there is in these two verses – that was in a “scripture union” meeting we had (only had about 6 people attending at the time) between lunch time and sports time!
I don’t think I will ever get tired of reading or saying out this verse! It was the first verse that I learned at church and it has stuck with me ever since. The priest who taught it to me did try to explain what it meant, but I never quite got the explanation; not until I heard the gospel explained a bit better and learned that my sins were keeping me away from God. That was when that verse began with a whole new meaning to me. I can remember a senior at school giving us a short lesson on just how much love there is in these two verses – that was in a “scripture union” meeting we had (only had about 6 people attending at the time) between lunch time and sports time!
These sorts of memories remind me of the importance of continuing in God’s Word and continuing to encourage others. I cannot remember the names of the seniors who were in charge of the scripture union, nor which one gave the lesson, but I can remember it because my bible had different text to theirs. We also used to meet for 10 minute prayer meetings every break time near the cricket pavilion – we had to go there so that we would not get mocked by all the other guys… But that sort of action built up a love for Christ that would not leave me. I may have left Christ out of my life when I left school and went through university, but coming back to His open, patient, loving arms was just as good as the day I was saved.
Christ did not come to condemn us. If He had done that, then I would have been in deep deep water when I turned my back on Him and followed my earthly ways. If He was a God that punished us for our sins, I would have probably not survived university – never mind the next 10 years of my life! But I can stand on these verses, knowing that they are true and knowing that God is always with me. I don’t have to be in church, nor do I have to do His work. I do them now because I love Him and I want to. I do them because He showed me such wonderful love in the beginning and again when I was willing to admit that I had gone astray. Our God loves us all and wants us all to believe in Him so that He can look after us as our loving father.
Points to Ponder:
What was the first bible verse you learned?
How much do you depend on God’s Word?
What was the first bible verse you learned?
How much do you depend on God’s Word?