“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 NKJV
“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
God who loves the world,
e of course of the most well known 3:16 in the bible. John 3:16. How reassuring this verse is for down days or any days! For doubtful days, and for days we wonder about the things we cannot see yet. At a good Christian memorial or funeral services we get reminded of Your provision and the certainty we will meet in heaven. But they only can do that because of Your Bible promises.
You loved us more than Yourself, Jesus was with You in the beginning in a way which is a mystery in its fulness to us. The Trinity. We use the understanding of Your only Son. You loved us more than Him. You literally love Your neighbours (those you created), as Yourself. You practice what You preach! That takes some thinking about.
Whoever believes, everyone who believes in Him, it says. That too takes some considering. You leave it up to us to decide whether to believe and take the gift. It is not about who passes the test, does best, earns it . . . it is about faith.
Not perish? Meaning more than die but rot away, what a horrible expression. But yes, we all die. However Your promised us we could pass through the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4) and not perish We can rise with Jesus in His resurrection. (Romans 6:6).Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven (John14:1).
We need to engrave these truths on our hearts and in our minds. And we give You eternal thanks for being utterly faithful..
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
God who loves this world,
We pray:
For all our family, friends, neighbours, and our church family. To know Your love for them.
For our town to know Your love and grow our fellowships.
For our town, local council and MP’s to make wise choices. For our King and His family to follow You.
For Gaza and the Middle East, for the miracle of resting from war and finding peace.
For Putin, the Russian people and Ukraine, an end and soon, to war.
For ongoing comfort, help and relief for those in Afghanistan, Libya and Morocco and where there has been flooding in the UK.
For our world, for Governments to see the benefit of loving the world and their people and doing the best for them.
For ourselves, to know Your love in us and it colour our day beautiful and encourage all we meet.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Worship Monday 29th October 2023
What kind of love is this
that gave itself for me?
I am the guilty one,
yet I go free.
What kind of love is this,
a love I’ve never known;
I didn’t even know his name –
what kind of love is this?
What kind of man is this,
that died in agony?
He who had done no wrong
was crucified for me.
What kind of man is this,
who laid aside his throne
that I may know the love of God –
what kind of man is this?
By grace I have been saved;
it is the gift of God.
He destined me to be his own
such is his love.
No eye has ever seen,
no ear has ever heard,
nor has the human heart conceived
what kind of love is this?
Lyrics: Bryn and Sally Haworth