Over the next few weeks of summer, we are going to be looking at 1 John together as a church and as a family. 1 John is a beautiful and important book of the bible. In fact, this week as … Continue reading
What is 1 John?
Tag Archives: John
John 4: 31-42 – The World of the Text (part two)
This week we are going deeper into John 4: 31-42. Each week thus far has had a “theme,” and this week’s to “look around.” We’ve looked ahead (Revelation), we’ve looked back (Deuteronomy), and now we are to look around at … Continue reading
John 4: 31-42 – The World of the Text
This week we are going deeper into John 4: 31-42. Each week thus far has had a “theme,” and this week’s to “look around.” We’ve looked ahead (Revelation), we’ve looked back (Deuteronomy), and now we are to look around at … Continue reading
John 4: 31-42 – The World Behind the Text
This week we are going deeper into John 4: 31-42. Each week thus far has had a “theme,” and this week’s to “look around.” We’ve looked ahead (Revelation), we’ve looked back (Deuteronomy), and now we are to look around at … Continue reading
John, Mary, and God’s Plan
In the media world, there is something called a simulcast. That’s when the same content is broadcast in two different places. This year, I’m going to attempt to do that with my daily devotionals and St. Matthew’s Rooted in Christ … Continue reading
Choose
One of the toughest things for my family is figuring out where to eat. We all have different tastes and likes/dislikes. And then when you add into the equation that sometimes I truly believe my kids will say no to … Continue reading
Follow Me – Love Podcast
The sermon podcast for Sunday, September 18, 2011 is up on Asbury Church’s website. This is the next sermon in our series about discipleship and the transformed life entitled “Follow Me.” This deals with following Jesus to Love and we examine the life of John. We look at Luke 9: 51-56, 1 John 4: 7-11, and Romans 2:4. In these we see how following Jesus changed John. You can listen to it by clicking here, or you can listen to it here on this blog by clicking below. And, as always, you can subscribe to my sermon podcasts through iTunes.
The Verses after John 3:16
This morning as I was reading through some passages, I read John 3. Of course, we all know and love John 3:16, which is one of those passages that we have all memorized, that we all know so well. It’s just a passage that just kind of floats around us, that is just part of the Christian experience.
I’ve always loved that passage too.
But, I’ll be honest with, I’ve always liked the verses that follow as much, if not more than John 3:16
17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.*”
It is not just that God sent His son into the world to save the world, He did not send His son into the world to condemn the world.
He loves the world. He loves you. Right now, no matter what you’ve done, what you’re doing.
He’s not out to get you. As that great song “Come as You are Starts” – “He’s not mad at you.”
Really, today, no matter what has happened in your life, God is not mad at you. God is not out to get you. God is not looking to smite you.
He loves you. He wants you to know Him, to love Him, and to find that life that comes only from Him.
Now, the judgement is this – that we choose our darkness over His light. But, He is not out to get you today.
No matter what happens today – God is not mad at you. God is in heaven, waiting for you mess you.
God wants to know you, love you, care for you, lead you.
Today.
He’s not out to get you. He’s out to love you.
Today.
Remember these verses that follow John 3:16. God loves you today and each day.
May we choose to follow, and may we choose to live in His light.
RevAndy.org 