Love Story

John 3:16-21

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.

It is so simple...and it is, for many, so daunting.

God's love is the reason that we are free from forces of darkness and death. Love is the reason that we are children of light.

Consider this: Take any aspect of your own being that seems problematic. God knows about it and places it in God's perspective (which is Love). God moves you into the light, and you enter the freedom of new life, fresh possibilities, eternal love.

It is as simple as that....and it is wonderful news....but why can it also be daunting?

Perhaps it is because of our fear... If God's mercy extends to our own imperfection, then we know (don't we?) that it extends to others, even those that we mistrust and fear. God's love beckons all that is hidden in the "secret" places of human hearts. God's mercy reaches out to saint and sinner alike! That means that when God envelops everything in the world in an embrace of love, we may be side by side, face to face with people, places and things that we would not choose.

Thankfully, we don't need to be consumed by condemnation or judgment.

Focusing upon God's love which is lavished upon us results in a life free from any force that separates and divides. Although it may seem simplistic, the reality is that we don't need to exert our efforts to assess ourselves (or others) and determine the degree of value or merit we (or others) have. Any time we dwell in judgment we are clinging to darkness.

God calls us into the light. God beckons us first by loving us unconditionally and completely. That is the first and fundamental and final reality.

Our faith in God's love, expressed so fully in Christ, grounds us in certainty and a sense of purpose that there is really only ONE essential thing to do today: Be in Love.

Love God...Love others as God loves you.

Amen.