Part Four of Five

“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 (NIV)

The fourth candle on the Advent wreath is the Love candle, often called the Angel’s candle.

I’ve been sharing the Advent readings with my students. One young girl said she could say John 3:16 really fast. She could be in training as an auctioneer, she recited the verse so quickly.

I have to wonder how often we speed through reading what Scripture tells us, reciting the verse or passage but not really spending time understanding or reflecting on what God is saying to us. I know I’ve been guilty of that with a familiar passage.

Let’s return to John 3:16 for a closer look at what it reveals about God’s love.

“For God so loved the world…”

God loves us! It’s so amazing to think that God, who made everything, loves each of us. His motive in what He does and has done for us is based on His love.

How have you experienced God’s love?

“…that he gave…”

God the Father freely gave His Son to us. It is for our benefit that He provided this priceless gift. He did not do so begrudgingly. Nor did God give us a worthless gift.

“…he gave his one and only Son…”

Our Heavenly Father gave His best. He gave us Jesus, His only Son.

I can’t imagine giving up one of my children or my husband for anyone, least of all for someone who doesn’t know or care about me. Yet God showed His love for us by giving His Son for us while we were still living in our sin. We all were sinners when Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-11).

Jesus left heaven and the power He had in heaven. He willingly obeyed His Father to come to earth. God the Son became flesh and was born in a stable, his crib a feeding trough. Jesus came, realizing His role would take Him to poverty, abuse, and His death on the cross for our sin. He knew that He would be separated from His Father, but that His death and resurrection would make it possible for us to be reunited with God the Father.

“…that whoever believes in him…”

God’s gift is for everyone who believes in Jesus. It is not based on our merit or position. It is a matter of faith, receiving the gift God sent to us.

“…whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

What a promise we have in the gift God gave to us! If we believe in him, we won’t suffer the eternal punishment for our sins. We have eternal life with God! This is further explained in John 3:17–18

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:17–18 (NIV)

If I gave a gift to someone and they did not take it, it may hurt my feelings, but it would not have eternal consequences. I pray that all will receive the gift God offers.

Have you received God’s gift?

Action Points:

• Learn more of God’s love for you and me. Read 1 John 4:7–21 this week. Share what you learn from the passage.
• Reflect on the gift God gave to us, His one and only Son, Jesus. What does it mean to you? Please share in the comments.

Let’s thank God for His gift to us.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of salvation through your Son, Jesus. Thank you for sending Jesus to provide the way to live with you. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who lives in those who believe in Jesus. Help me to obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit so I will live for you. I pray this in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.

Thank you for reading my devotionals. I hope they touch your heart. Join me on Christmas Eve’s with the reading for the Christ candle and to celebrate Jesus. See past devotionals including the rest of the Advent series, the 2025 Clay in the Potter’s Hands series, the Attributes of God: A to Z series in 2024, or others dating back to August 2020. Click on the date under the title to expand the text

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Scriptures marked NIV are taken from the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV): Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™. Used by permission of Zondervan.