Significant Simplicity

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

It was 1957 on a Sunday night at Evangel Temple in Miami, Fl. I was almost 5 years old and had to quote this famous little verse. There is a vague memory of stumbling through it with prompts from a kind little lady. Thus my debut in front of an audience…

Windows 8 is a program that you either love or hate. I happen to like it. While working on my laptop the other night, the Bible program was continuously scrolling through various verses from the book of John. As John 3:16 scrolled through, I paused and thought about its simplicity; God loved us in such a way that He was compelled to send His Son to die for us. I really needed to be reminded of this simple truth.

In all of His omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence, God IS love (I John 4:8). It is not that we love God, but that He loves us. And it is that love that sent Christ into the world to live as a man so that we may live through Him.

Speaking to His disciples, Jesus said:

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (John 15:12-14)

The significant simplicity of God’s love for humanity led to the obedience of the only One who was qualified for the mission. That same love should guide us through our daily routines and encounters so that we never forget OUR mission; to love humanity as Christ has loved us.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
(John 15:16)