Message summary: It's great to love and to be loved isn't it? And everyone can experience the love of God!

Listen to our message on your audio player.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Yesterday I visited a man in the hospital who is dealing with an affliction he would neither have chosen nor scheduled. I told him a lesson I had learned about 15 years ago when I faced an unexpected affliction lasting over a year with four major surgeries; you don't pick your problems and you don't schedule them. Before leaving I prayed with him and shared a familiar Scripture verse, Romans 8:28, focusing on the phrase, "called according to His purpose".

In spite of his pain and the uncertainty regarding his condition he is a man of faith and demonstrated a resolve to face this trial with an assurance of God's love. He told me how he had such love and support from his family describing the night before when his wife and all his children filled the room. It not only encouraged him but also brought him great comfort knowing that his family stands behind him during this trial. I told him he was experiencing one of the greatest blessings of life, being loved.

Just prior to our visit I had seen a brief video in church. It featured a children's home in Harare, Zimbabwe where missionaries house babies that are abandoned shortly after birth. As I recall this particular city had 15 babies abandoned each month, which prompted me to consider just how many babies must be abandoned worldwide every single day. In sharing this story with my friend, in his hospital room, we both agreed that there could be no greater source of rejection than this, apart from being aborted.

We've been enjoying a song by the Booth Brothers with these words:


John 3:16. How often has this verse been proclaimed! It is the gospel in a nutshell! This verse conveys God's immense love for His creation and the incredible sacrifice He would make on behalf of the fallen race so that we do not have to perish due to our sins, but instead we can experience eternal life if we choose to believe in Jesus. It's probably the most memorized Scripture verse in all of God's Word since it is the essence of salvation and is often taught in our early Sunday School years. We do well to not only memorize 3:16 but also v. 17 as well, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

It's great to love and to be loved isn't it? Some have described God's love as a relentless love since God speaks to us again and again compelling us to receive Jesus as our Savior. Some of us have a loving supportive family and homes filled with love. What a blessing. We may also have many friends, an extended family and a church characterized by AGAPE love. But John 3:16 is for the loved and unloved. "Red and yellow, black and white, they're all precious in His sight."

John 3:16 begins with the glorious phrase, "God so loved the world". Amen, He sure does and He specifically loves you and me this day and every day. Some of you have not experienced a loving earthly family as we have. Undoubtedly some have had a very difficult time in life and still do. There are those reading this who've been abused and carry deep scars. The sacred trust between an earthly spouse, parent or sibling was violated.

Those who bear deep scars especially take note. You are now learning to trust your heavenly Father who is altogether trustworthy. His steadfast love never ceases. I know many of you long ago memorized the daily verse. Hide it deep in your heart. I find it helpful to personalize it. For God loved me so much that He gave His only begotten Son, that when I believe in Him I will not perish but have everlasting life.

Indeed, what the world needs to hear is John 3:16, so that many will respond by believing in the very One who love us and gives everlasting life!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, Your love is somewhat relentless but never forceful since You give to all a free will. You come to us again and again through the working of the Holy Spirit that convicts us of our sins. But that's only the beginning, for once we respond there is the reassuring work of the Spirit that reminds us that we are no longer condemned but saved through the sacrificial death of Jesus who died in our place. We appropriate Christ's redemptive work on our behalf and receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life in heaven. Thank You for Your marvelous provision and wondrous love on our behalf. Amen.

---

Just as the mere numeric reference "3:16" brings to mind John 3:16 what well-known verses do the following numeric references go with?

1. _____________ 8:28
2. _____________ 2:8,9
3. _____________ 29:11
4. _____________ 1:1
5. _____________ 6:33
6. _____________ 1:8
7. _____________ 16:31
8. _____________ 10:10
9. _____________ 3:23
10. _____________ 40:31
11. _____________ 13:1
12. _____________ 11:6
13. _____________ 23:1
14. _____________ 6:8
15. _____________ 119:105

---

Daily Encouragement Net Reader Survey: Thanks to all who took a few minutes to fill in a reader survey the last several days. We found the input helpful and encouraging. For those who may be interested we have prepared a page with the results, including comments (pdf)

---

---

"What The World Needs To Hear"  Video  Booth Brothers

"In This Very Room"  Video  Haven Of Rest Quartet  The conversation I had with my friend in the hospital brought to mind a song Bruce Jack, one of our faithful church members, sang at our first service in our new church building we planted in northern PA over 30 years ago.


"It's What He's Done"  Video  Wilburn & Wilburn

"Love Was In The Room"  Video  Booth Brothers

"Your Love Is in the Room"  Video  Brock Human

Finally today: