The Heart of the Big Story "In This Way..."

SOAP Journal based on John 3 “In this way…”

S = 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 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.

O = This verse we considered this week is probably the best know verse in the Bible…but I think we don’t understand it as well as we think. This verse ties in as the heart of God’s Big Story from Genesis to Revelation. God has always been the same and his mission has always been to reconcile his fallen creation back to himself. The Greek word translated “so” literally means “in this way.” It is in this way that God loved the world! We need to adjust the way we look at what the Bible says about what God is like. As one affective theologian said, “God is not a Judge who loves when he can, but a Lover who judges when he has to.” Another important bit of context is that Jesus says this in a conversation with Nicodemus a Pharisee, who by training and practice would have looked around in condemnation of others. Jesus was dealing with Nicodemus’ faulty views of God, of others, and of how someone can have relationship with God. It is grace by faith, not law by works.

A = When I read this verse I have to overcome the familiarity that says I’ve read that verse a thousand times, and pause to listen for what it says about the nature of God. If God really loves (even me) and didn’t come to condemn, then the way I look at people should begin to reflect God’s love not my condemnation. If this week I can begin to look for ways that God’s love and grace are working all around me instead of focusing on the shortcomings of those I see, meet, work with, and live by, it will not only add to my joy in this season, but I will be able to encourage others more effectively. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict us of sin (so that we repent and return to Jesus) and I choose to not do his job for him this week!

P = O Lord, thank you for taking my place, for assuming my frailties and failures. Your love amazes me, heals me, and changes the way I see others. I pray that they could see your love at work in me this week. Show me Lord how you would have me participate in your great mission to reconcile the world to you and to each other! May you work your righteousness in me as I respond to your love poured out for me! Amen.