For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16 NLT
Imagine a company’s employees had been preparing to receive a high-profile ambassador. They gathered all the details about him and all they needed to know about his visit, except one crucial piece of information: what he looked like. The team went all out to announce his visit to the board members and even renovated an office in his honour. However, when the ambassador finally arrived, the employees shockingly ignored him, claiming they had no idea who he was.This scenario closely resembles the first coming of Christ.
From the beginning, God had been preparing His people for the arrival of His Son (Genesis 3:15). He foretold the coming of the Messiah through many prophecies (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, Isaiah 53, Micah 5:2). Yet when Jesus came to the earth, the very people who should have recognized Him didn’t. They rejected Him, despised Him, and ultimately crucified Him (John 1:11).
Our anchor verse illustrates that God’s love for humanity was displayed in the most profound way through the gift of His Son. Without Jesus, we would be dead in sin, unable to pay for our wrongs or fix our brokenness. But God, in His mercy, sent Jesus to do what we couldn’t— He took our sins, died our death, and set us free from the law of sin and death (Romans 5:8, 8:2).
So, how do you receive God’s love? You receive it with all of your heart and in humility. You did nothing to earn God’s love; it was freely given through Christ. We have been saved by faith in Him and not by any works (Ephesians 2:8-9). You must recognize that it is by His grace you are saved.You must also receive God’s love with gratitude. You can never thank Him enough for sending His Son to die for you. You ought to bless the Lord at all times, for He has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). Even if you were the only person in need of salvation, Jesus would have still come to die for you. This shows the depth of God’s love—He would leave the 99 just to find the one (Luke 15:4-7).
Remember, it is in receiving Christ that you experience the true depth of God’s love, and it is through Him that you are reconciled to God and given eternal life. As you humbly accept this incredible gift, you are called to live in gratitude and reflect that love to others around you.
Bible Reading Plan: Exodus 37-38; Matthew 25:1-30