How He loves us

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
You’ve probably heard the verse so many times. Maybe you accepted that gift of love long ago. Perhaps through familiarity it has lost some of the impact. Maybe you’ve never given it much thought. The Bible says Jesus, God’s only Son, left heaven, came down to earth and then “he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).
On the cross, something amazing happened. As heaven and earth collided, as the hands that placed the stars in the night sky bled for us, as Jesus took the punishment we deserve, God’s love was displayed for all to see. “He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.” (Colossians 1:20). He made there the one complete and all sufficient sacrifice, his sinless life given up for us, sinners condemned and unclean.
Because of Jesus’ blood shed for us on the cross we can be considered righteous in the sight of God. All of our afflictions are eclipsed by glory because of Jesus’ death for us. Nothing we could do could ever overcome our sin and make us right with God, but as the nails drove into Jesus’ hands and the crowd jeered Jesus declared “It is finished” (John 19:30). He paid the price to free us from the punishment our sinfulness deserves. Love so amazing, so divine, it demands our life, our soul, our all.
And now there comes a choice. Jesus died on the cross so that we could have eternal life, if we believe in him. So now the ball is in your court, and it is up to you to make the next move. If you have accepted his gift of love, will you share it with others? Will you take time today to tell someone, to post a Facebook status, to tweet a verse about the Cross? Will you let them know today that there is grace in His eye that draws us to redemption? And if you haven’t yet put your faith in Jesus to save you, now is your chance. God loves you with an unfailing love; the cross is proof of that. Will you respond to that love? On the cross Jesus paid it all – will you take the step of faith and see him run to you with outstretched loving arms?