Prayer when we forget John 3:17
Payton Garland
Bible Reading:
“God did not send his son into the world to blame the world, but to save the world through him,” John 3:17 (NIV)
Listen or read:
As far as I can remember, I know John 3:16. The Awana girl reaches excess and never forgets that she remembers the poems that are essential to her faith. Decades later I discovered that John 3:16 saved my heart, but John 3:17 recovered from religious trauma and ultimately restored my perception of the Church today.
The background of my church is Hellfire and rocks on the bridge. Many theological concepts are misdirected into dangerous scary tactics. This made Christ just a card that was not my friend or guardian, but merely a non-going card. Was this a god, not to mention something really loved? I didn’t really understand. I wanted to do what I had to do to do to avoid eternal accusations. After that, I’m going to keep him as far away as possible. The closer I get to him, the easier he will punish me, right?
Ultimately, I discovered that the only God you surrendered is fear as you are worried about fragments of his character that you have never decided to chase. Fear becomes a heavy burden on your body control panel, your mind operator, your soul silencer, and your heart.
Looking back at my church background, I realize that those unhealthy leaders behind the pulpit and the Sunday School podiums have made the gospel about me, how I am a sinner, how I am not enough, how I have made a way out of God. And they are theologically true, and the gospel is not about me, just as the Bible aligns. You can hang theological facts in front of sinners all day, but the foundations of Christianity are that repentance is born from the desperate desire of the Savior of Love to forgive you and know you. What kind of legs can you stand up? If cold facts wash away the kindness of our soul authors and perfectors, what kind of mind can the truth change?
Friend, Pride is so sleazy that she whispers the notion that the gospel is everything we do. But we are violently wrong. The Gospel is about God, who dwelled in our imperfections and chose to suffer in our pain, Christ, who was deliberately broken for our rescue and redness. If we make the gospel about the man of God that it is intended to be intended, then our focus is on our ignorant perception of the Self and our God and less about Christ and who He is. It’s no longer just about getting out of hell. It is to fall in love with our great rescuer.
John 3:17 is a beautiful reminder of who Christ is. He is brave, kind, empathetic, bold and devoted. He puts all these things together and is perfect with each of their lovely traits. Even better, his reliability means it’s safe to abandon my fears, as his empathy means that my perfection will never become a requirement. The gospel is not about the ability to please God and save me. It is about God rejoicing in welcoming the house of a scary sinner in the comfort of his mercy, grace and forgiveness.
God does not please the rebuke. In fact, he longs to free us from it. His goal is that we are never bound by fear, lies, and twisted, dark perceptions of who he is. Darkness is the deadly territory of our enemies, and the very place where God sent the light of the world to save us.
We live in the grace of John 3:16, but in the peace of Jesus, knowing that Jesus’ heart is a heart of hope, love, and safety. It’s a heart that longs to rescue, redeem, and always protect you. It is a heart that expels fear and offers honest conviction and forgiveness instead. It’s a heart you can trust to guide you home.
Let’s pray:
Father of God, thank you for the incredible red stories you wrote from the beginning. Thank you for letting your precious and perfect Jesus surrender. It’s very easy to gloss the Bible we have known for years, but perhaps for decades, your ancient texts, your wisdom, and your heart will breathe new life that has spilled on the pages. Never accept your words and the gifts that are your son as a given. In your holy name, Amen.
Photo Credit: ©GetTyimages/Arkira
Payton Garland is an author, editor and boy mama who lives in the beautiful hilly areas of eastern Tennessee. Subscribe to her blog with ucured+OKSOK to encourage more.
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