TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16
Read: 1 John 3:1-16
Listen: 1 John 3
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Jesus is the embodiment of God’s love. He came to earth because of love (John 3:16), poured God’s love out on those he ministered to and gave his life on the cross all because of love. John, one of Jesus’ disciples, was transformed by how Jesus expressed love. John tells us, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” John could write that because he both saw Jesus’ love and received it.
We can experience the same love John received. Jesus laid down his life and offers life and love to us. We just have to accept it and receive it.
The Bible tells the story of God and people. God creates people to have a relationship with him in a perfect world. We mess it up. From the very beginning, we want to do our own thing instead of following God’s perfect plan. Our ancestors were this way, and we are too. Our rebellion against God has us in a desperate situation, and Jesus is compelled by love to rescue us. His death on the cross provides the only way out. It offers a restored relationship with God. It isn’t something we can earn and we don’t deserve it. We accept God’s offer of love and life by acknowledging our inability to rescue ourselves, recognizing who Jesus is and what he did for us, and choosing to follow God’s plan instead of ours.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Consider whether you have ever accepted God’s gift of love and life. If you haven’t, why not today? If you have, thank God for dying for you and commit to living his plan instead of yours. Want to talk more about what it means to accept God’s gift of love and life? Send us an email to btw@adabible.org.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
