For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. John 3:16-17

This weeks meditation is John 3:16-17. For believers, this is a very familiar passage, but one that really needs to be pondered. Love is something that everyone needs and desires. Love is at the root of feeling secure. Jesus gave up His life, so that those who believe in Him, shall not perish but shall have eternal life. His love never fails and never changes. Jesus also gave a command: love God, love your neighbor, and love yourself. Today, think about the kind of love that drove Jesus to the cross for you and me. Also, ponder on the love that God has for you as His most prized workmanship. Lastly, think loving thoughts about yourself. You have have been fearfully and wonderfully made. You have gifts and talents and the world needs you. You are valuable to the world and those around you. My prayer for you today:

May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! Ephesians 3:17-19