For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.  John 3:16-17 NASB

Have you ever received a gift that you felt you truly didn’t deserve?  Perhaps someone spent more money on you than you feel they should have or perhaps they bought you a gift, just because.  Maybe there was a time when you were behaving badly, but someone loved you enough to buy you a special gift anyway. You know, the kind of occasion when you open this awesome gift and think or perhaps even say, “For me?”.

Well this is what this scripture refers to times a million.  Romans 3:23 says that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  As a child, one of the first scripture passages that I can recall memorizing in Sunday School was John 3:16-For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (KJV).  But when I memorized this verse, I did not comprehend the enormity of it’s meaning.  Even now as an adult, I have a hard time wrapping my head around this.

While I was a lousy sinner drowning in my own sinful desires, thinking of only my own selfish wants, God had mercy on me.  God loved me enough to save me.  God sent His son to live on this earth for 33 years without sin in order to show us how to live.  He went to the cross and died for our sins.  He didn’t die only for those who love Him dearly and strive every day to do His will.  He died for those deep in sin in the hopes that one day they would accept this awesome gift that He offers.

Years ago, I commented on how much I liked the scent of a friend’s cologne in church.  She told me what cologne it was and then within a few days showed up at my door with a gift set of the cologne.  I was overwhelmed.  I knew these things were not cheap and I just couldn’t believe that she had taken the time out of her busy schedule, and the money, to buy this for me.  I told her that this was too much and I couldn’t accept it.  She simply said that she wanted to bless me and that when someone wanted to bless us that we must not turn them down, we must allow them to bless us.  She told me that we must not deny someone of the opportunity to bless us.  I then saw her gift in a totally different light.

God wants to bless you today.  Won’t you accept this wonderful gift that He offers?  If you have not already accepted Christ as your savior, there is no time like now.  Trust in Him, turn to Him, confess your sins to Him and accept that He is your Lord and Savior.  Do not deny God the opportunity to bless you.  Maybe you think you don’t deserve this awesome gift and you know what, you’re right.  None of us deserve God’s goodness and mercy, but He offers it with open arms to sinners just like you and me.

I have fully accepted the wonderful gift that God has offered.  I pray that if you have not, you will do the same.  If you have accepted this gift, then share it with others.  Let others around you know of the wonderful gift that they too can accept.

The backstory of this scripture passage is that a Jewish ruler (yes, those who persecuted Jesus) named Nicodemus came to Jesus in the night to ask him about salvation.  Nicodemus understood that there was something different about Jesus, but had a hard time grasping the whole issue of being born again.

So today we have a choice, we can join in the world and persecute Jesus by living lives that do not honor Him or we can accept this wonderful gift and strive to please God and show Him our appreciation for what He has done for us.  I still can’t believe that he gave this gift to me,  I am so unworthy.  I try daily to be worthy, but know that I will never be able to repay God for what He has done for me.   But I also know that I will spend the rest of my days trying to honor Him.  Won’t you join me?

Have a great day!