DAY 3

"16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17,  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Verse 16 is probably the undisputed, best-known scripture in the entire bible.  You see it on signs and t-shirts and at football games.  Spray painted on highway overpasses and water towers.  SO... what's the big deal with this verse that would cause face painted, hairy chested, beer gut jostling men to go crazy holding this sign for us all to see at the super bowl coming up?  (that's a mental picture huh?) The reason this verse is so well known is because in one sentence it reveals God's intentions with man and his heart. Through this verse and the verse after it we see that both, his intentions and his heart toward us are GOOD!  Most people think of God as someone up there who is constantly disappointed in us and who is mad at us.  But these verses reveal to us that not only did he send his Son to die for us and save us; he did it because he LOVES us.  What a thought! That God was moved to action out of an incredible love, not an incredible disappointment. That he desires to have a relationship with us so badly that he would sacrifice the thing most precious to himself to be with us. Is there any greater picture of love than that of sacrifice? Wow.  And he says that all we need to do to be a part of this wonderful gift is to simply believe.  Believe in who he says he is, that he is the creator of all, that he came to earth as a man and lived a sinless life and died on a cross of suffering and pain in our place and that he rose again three days later.  And remember this was all done for love for you and me.  This is the single most important decision we will make in our entire lives, whether or not we believe in Jesus, not just as a teacher or someone who lived a long time ago but as a savior.  So, today I invite you to consider accepting Jesus as a savior and invite him to become an active part of your life.  If you have been following Jesus for awhile I'd like to bring to your remembrance that his heart toward you is good and his desire is to become even closer with you.  If you made a decision to accept Jesus today, congratulations, and I'd  like to invite you to share that with one of us so that we can be praying for you!  I hope that you guys have a great day 3!  Talk to you soon- Archie