Taking God At His Word
Today’s Verse:
John 3:16 ESV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
When we take a moment and consider the world’s most favorite bible verses, nothing will come close to John 3:16. It is the entire gospel rolled up into one verse. We see God’s love, Jesus’ sacrifice for us, and our salvation in 24 words.
The salvation we read about in this verse reminds us that it is not something we achieve but receive from God by His grace. His grace shown in love is not conditional on us being good. It is freely showered upon us in Jesus Christ, who bore our sins and died our death so we might have life in Him.
Martin Luther called this verse "the Gospel in miniature," emphasizing that everything we need to know about God's grace is here. Notice that the verse begins with God’s love. Before we ever turned to Him, He had already turned toward us in love. This love moved Him to give the greatest gift—His Son.
To believe in Christ is to trust that His sacrifice is enough. It is to rest in His grace, knowing that we do not stand before God on our own righteousness but clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. Through faith, we receive the promise that we "shall not perish but have eternal life."
This is the comfort of the gospel: God's love is greater than our sins, His mercy is more profound than our failures, and His promise of eternal life is sure. Let us take God at His word of promise.
Prayers
A Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so deeply that You gave Your only Son for our salvation. Help us to trust in Him alone, resting in the promise of eternal life. Strengthen our faith and lead us to share this good news with others.In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.