Our scripture for the Daily Devotional today is taken from John 3: 1-18. God’s love is calculated! Meticulously He planned out His actions to redeem and draw us close to Him. God’s love for us all had Him calculating the cost, and knowing the cost, He still sacrificed His only son.
“Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d]
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.[e] 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[f] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”[g]
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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
We know not of a love like this from those around us on this world. Human’s love is so emotional and fleeting. We claim to love someone, only to discard them in our next breath. This is very clearly found in the divorce rate. To is so interesting to hear so frequently the excuse of how a couple has grown apart as they have aged.
You will never be able to comprehend or grasp God’s love based on your experiences in your life. You may have had your heart broken. People may not have fulfilled their promises to you. No matter the experience and history you have, God’s love is greater than any of the previous claims.
It is difficult to explain and it just requires us to release all that we have and receive God’s love. His love comes with no strings attached, after all, He has done all that is necessary to prove His love and commitment to us and you!
Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for loving me. Thank you that You have proven Your love and commitment to me all those years ago on the cross. I can confidently stand here just receiving Your love. Pour into me today Your love, fill this cracking and broken vessel with Your love, and help me to love like You today!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen