John 3:16-21
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.
These words of Jesus are both challenging and comforting. Challenging when he states that "For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed" (verse 20). When we try to hide our sin, when we avoid confession, when we succumb to temptation, we are loving the darkness over the light. And we are staying in the darkness for fear of being exposed, because we know that to come into the light will be painful. But there is hope, "for God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" (verse 17). We fear coming into the light because we fear judgement and condemnation, but God offers us mercy and healing. We need to keep that good news in mind when we feel stuck in our sin.
God, thank you for saving me.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.
These words of Jesus are both challenging and comforting. Challenging when he states that "For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed" (verse 20). When we try to hide our sin, when we avoid confession, when we succumb to temptation, we are loving the darkness over the light. And we are staying in the darkness for fear of being exposed, because we know that to come into the light will be painful. But there is hope, "for God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" (verse 17). We fear coming into the light because we fear judgement and condemnation, but God offers us mercy and healing. We need to keep that good news in mind when we feel stuck in our sin.
God, thank you for saving me.