John 3:16,  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Think

"The gospel is amazingly simple, and simply amazing!" John 3:16 is probably the most recognizable verse in all of Scripture. Even people who've never been to church or know nothing about the Bible, have seen or heard it. Why is this verse so familiar? Because it is the entire gospel in a nutshell! Undeniably powerful by design, it taps into our most basic need – God, who has placed eternity on every human heart. We are all sinners desperately in need of a Savior. One bad day, one impure thought, or one rude comment is enough to eternally separate us from a perfect and holy God. But God, motivated by His all-encompassing love for us, orchestrated a brilliant plan to reconcile us to Himself. He sent His only Son to die for our freedom. Because Jesus lived righteously, died sacrificially, and rose bodily to pay for our sin, we have the opportunity to spend eternity with Him in heaven. But the choice is ours – we decide whether or not to make Jesus the Lord of our lives. And the moment we turn from our past and toward God, all of our sins are forgiven. Forgiveness is the crux of our faith – without it we're in big trouble. When we choose to receive His forgiveness, the same supernatural transformational power that allowed Jesus to overcome the grave is available to us 24/7! We now have the power and ability to leave our past behind, unhindered and free to be who God has created us to be.

Act

There are four major components to today's verse: The Cause –  "For God so loved the world" The Cost –  "...that He gave His one and only Son" The Condition –  "...that whoever believes in Him" The Consequence –  "...shall not perish but have eternal life." We can't allow this verse to become commonplace in our hearts and minds. Therefore, meditate on each component as you move through your day extending grace and modeling Christ's humility.

Pray

Dear Lord, thank You for giving me life and sacrificing Your Son to pay for my sin. Give me strength to place my full trust in Your love to continue its transformational work within me. Today, let my words, actions, and deeds reflect the good news of the gospel to all I encounter. In Jesus' name, Amen.