Pastor's Corner

Pastor John R. Reed

“For God so loved the world...” -John 3:16

Are you in the world? Then you’re on God’s love list. No exceptions. No preconditions. When Jesus first spoke these words, Jews were shocked. Surely God doesn’t love Romans who oppress us or Babylonians who destroyed Jerusalem. Greeks and Romans laughed because their gods had zero compassion. But this God is radically different. His love isn’t limited by nationality, politics, race, finance, or education. He loves Chinese and Americans, Democrats and Republicans, rich and poor, ignorant and the educated equally.

The reality is that God doesn’t love you because you’re valuable. You’re valuable because God loves you. You can’t do anything good enough to make Him love you more. You can’t do anything bad enough to make Him love you less. Your Monday-morning failures don’t decrease. Your Sunday-morning worship doesn’t increase it. His love for you is final, unlimited, and unconditional. Insecurity tries to convince you, “I’m not enough,” and comparison whispers, “He loves them more than me.” Remember these six revolutionary words. “For God so loved the world.” You’re on the list. You’ve always been on the list. You’ll always be on the list.