He gave His one and only Son

God gave His one and only Son for me. Now there is a humbling thought. Me, the guy who can't drive to work in the morning without sin, much less go a whole day. God gave His son to die for me so that I could be with Him! Are you kidding me? What part of that deal was fair? People complain all the time that life isn't fair. I for one, am glad it isn't, because if it was I would go straight to hell. I am glad life isn't fair!

Jesus is the one and only. That is a pretty crazy thought. He is the one who has the ultimate power. The guy everyone pretends to be when they are little. Everyone wants to be in control, but He actually is! He can calm storms or create them, he causes the sun to rise and set. He is one with the Father, and He came to die for me! Now that is love.

For God so loved the world...

The love of God is an amazing thing. It isn't like the love of this world. There is alot of fragile love in this world. Love that grows old, cracks, fades, and breaks. God's love isn't that way. It is a love that endures for all time. A love that caused Him to come from heaven and save my sorry soul. The things about God's love is that I don't deserve it. It is something that He just gave to me. I can't do anything to earn His love, but the great part is I don't have to earn it. It has already been given.

God's love will never let go. I love the words penned by Matt Redman:
"Oh no, You never let go
Trough the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord You never let go of me."

That is such a comforting thought to me. Even though at times it seems like everyone else has left, I know that God will not ever leave. He won't ever kick me off the team or vote me off the island. His love for me runs deeper than I can even fathom. Wow.

The Most Famous Conversation Ever

Nicodemus was a man well respected in the community as a religious leader, yet he finds himself sneaking around late at night going to talk to a homeless carpenter from Nazareth. He comes and and pays Jesus a compliment saying that he knows he is a great teacher from God, probably expecting Jesus to return the compliment. Jesus does not. He gets right to the point and says, 'unless you are born again, you can't get to heaven.' Nicodemus is really confused and probably thinks it is a bit of a joke. After a few minutes it became quite clear that Jesus wasn't joking around.

Think about it though, how much work did you do when you were born? Nicodemus lived in a culture that preached works to get to heaven, and Jesus was totally turning that idea inside out! Your mom did all the work when you were born the first time, and God is going to do all the work the second time! You can't earn your way to heaven, it is a gift of grace.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."

Probably the most well known verse of scripture. Sometimes it almost becomes cliche. But take a few minutes and look at the hope that springs from this verse. God isn't an angry God waiting to send us all to hell! It says He loved us so much He would rather send His son to die than send us to hell! All we have to do is believe and follow. Amazing. Nicodemus was the first to hear these words of hope, it what may have been the most famous, and most important conversation of all time.

Enjoy the Journey