One of the most popular verses in the Bible is John 3:16.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

John 3:16

This verse teaches me two things:

1. Because God loves, He gives

God exists outside of time and he know that the human race would need a saviour. He loved us so much that he planned for it in advance. He was not willing to let us perish because of our sins and so he planned the great sacrifice Jesus would make when the world was being created.

….. the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world.

Revelation 13:8 (b)

This is a profound mystery to me. God already knew that we humans would fall, and he had already planned for Jesus to come into this world and die for us. I am forever amazed that God knew me – the full me with all the failures and weaknesses present – and still planned in advance that he would rescue me and restore me back to himself.

He still loves me, and wants to use me to accomplish his will on this earth. He still loves all of us, and is not willing that any man would perish.

One of my favourite preachers puts it this way. “God knew you would make some mistakes along the way, but his plans for you still stand anyway.” What God has for us in this life will be if we continually give our hearts to him. If we turn back to him and away from anything that removes us from his presence, he will guide us back to his true and everlasting way.

2. As God’s children, giving is a natural expression of our love

When we turn to God, we become more like him. We start to see and do things like him. God’s natural expression of love is to give, and we also start to give more as he works on our hearts. Giving is not just limited to money. We can give time, understanding, patience, compassion and many other virtues. The more God changes us, the more we are able to give all these to the world.

The most amazing thing about this is the more we give, the more we get! That’s just how amazing our God is. The more we give, the more he entrusts us with, for us to share it with the world.

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. 

For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Luke 6:38

It’s always a win-win with God!

Today Lord I pray that you may empower me to love more, give more, and keep getting more from you to share with the world. All for your glory, that the world may see Jesus more and more through me.

Amen.