The Father’s Unimaginable Gift
11/15/2025
“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)
There are verses we memorize, and then, there are verses that shape us. John 3:16 is one of those Scriptures that gets sewn into the fabric of our faith. We see it on signs at football games, stitched on pillowcases, printed on coffee mugs, but familiarity can make us miss the weight of what Jesus is saying.
Not long ago, when Caryn and I moved, we found ourselves opening boxes we hadn’t touched in years. Inside were baby books, photos that had softened with age, cards our girls made when they were little, and moments of our life preserved in ink, paper, and crayon.
Every item we pulled out carried a memory, a laugh, a milestone, a moment that shaped who we became as a family. And yet, as precious as they were, they had been packed away, tucked out of sight, forgotten in the busyness of life.
It made me pause and think:
If these things meant so much… why did we store them away for so long?
We treasure what matters, but sometimes we tuck away what is most precious without even realizing it. And standing there, holding those old memories, I couldn’t help but think about God.
Because while we safeguard memories in boxes, God doesn’t put His most precious treasure in storage. He gives Him away.
This is the breathtaking truth of John 3:16:
God doesn’t just love, He gives.
He doesn’t wait until we’re worthy, He comes when we’re wandering.
He doesn’t offer something replaceable, He offers His Son.
Believing in Jesus isn’t just agreeing He existed; it’s leaning your whole life on the One who was given for you. It’s trusting Him with your past, your wounds, your hopes, your identity, and your eternity.
And like standing in a room with old memories spread out across the floor, sometimes we need a moment to remember what we’ve stored away… to bring to the surface just how much God has done for us.
Action Steps:
• Reflect on the personal significance of God giving His Son for you.
• Spend three minutes thanking God for His sacrificial love.
• Identify one area of your life where you may be “storing away” God’s love instead of leaning into it fully.
• Share John 3:16 with someone today and remind them they are deeply loved by God.
Today’s Challenge:
Find one person who seems discouraged or overlooked and remind them, “God sees you, and He loves you more than you know.” Let that truth echo the heart of John 3:16.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for loving me so completely that You gave Your one and only Son. Thank You for a love that isn’t distant, hidden, or stored away, but freely poured out over my life. Help me receive Your gift today with fresh gratitude. Teach me to trust Jesus more fully and to reflect Your love to those around me. Let my life point others to the eternal hope found in Him. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
“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)
There are verses we memorize, and then, there are verses that shape us. John 3:16 is one of those Scriptures that gets sewn into the fabric of our faith. We see it on signs at football games, stitched on pillowcases, printed on coffee mugs, but familiarity can make us miss the weight of what Jesus is saying.
Not long ago, when Caryn and I moved, we found ourselves opening boxes we hadn’t touched in years. Inside were baby books, photos that had softened with age, cards our girls made when they were little, and moments of our life preserved in ink, paper, and crayon.
Every item we pulled out carried a memory, a laugh, a milestone, a moment that shaped who we became as a family. And yet, as precious as they were, they had been packed away, tucked out of sight, forgotten in the busyness of life.
It made me pause and think:
If these things meant so much… why did we store them away for so long?
We treasure what matters, but sometimes we tuck away what is most precious without even realizing it. And standing there, holding those old memories, I couldn’t help but think about God.
Because while we safeguard memories in boxes, God doesn’t put His most precious treasure in storage. He gives Him away.
This is the breathtaking truth of John 3:16:
God doesn’t just love, He gives.
He doesn’t wait until we’re worthy, He comes when we’re wandering.
He doesn’t offer something replaceable, He offers His Son.
Believing in Jesus isn’t just agreeing He existed; it’s leaning your whole life on the One who was given for you. It’s trusting Him with your past, your wounds, your hopes, your identity, and your eternity.
And like standing in a room with old memories spread out across the floor, sometimes we need a moment to remember what we’ve stored away… to bring to the surface just how much God has done for us.
Action Steps:
• Reflect on the personal significance of God giving His Son for you.
• Spend three minutes thanking God for His sacrificial love.
• Identify one area of your life where you may be “storing away” God’s love instead of leaning into it fully.
• Share John 3:16 with someone today and remind them they are deeply loved by God.
Today’s Challenge:
Find one person who seems discouraged or overlooked and remind them, “God sees you, and He loves you more than you know.” Let that truth echo the heart of John 3:16.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for loving me so completely that You gave Your one and only Son. Thank You for a love that isn’t distant, hidden, or stored away, but freely poured out over my life. Help me receive Your gift today with fresh gratitude. Teach me to trust Jesus more fully and to reflect Your love to those around me. Let my life point others to the eternal hope found in Him. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
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