Saturday, February 14
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.
—John 3:16
When God sent his only Son
into the world, says Gomes, it taught us two things about God's actions in our
world. The first is that God's ultimate relationship to the world is not one of
power or indifference but of affection, and the second is that God loves us so
much that the ultimate expression of that love was to send himself in the form
of his son. This action of God dignifies the whole creation by becoming a
part of it so that we might participate with God in making a new
creation.”
Then Gomes asks,
Dare we invest less in humanity than God? Ought we not take the sign of God's love for us in Christ as a sign that we are lovable and the world is worth loving? If that is so, can there be any possible limit to what we can attempt as God's representatives in the world?
We are lovable and the world is
worth loving. What an insight and what a challenge.
Gomes
offers a whole new perspective on this famous text. When I've read or
heard the words of John 3:16 before now, I've thought I was given a gift, albeit
one I didn't know exactly what to do with. Now I am challenged to be part of
God's redemptive work in our
hurting world.
May God give us the grace and
courage to act on God's behalf.
Dear God, make us instruments of your peace—and love. Amen.
These Signposts originally appeared on explorefaith in 2006.