Second Sunday in Lent - Questions in the Dark
Goes along with Kids Devotion of the same title.
God loves the whole world, and that includes you.
Read John 3:1-17.
Bible Focus: “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night…” -John 3:1-2a
John 3:16. We’ve all heard it. It’s a good one-sentence summary of the Bible. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
In just a few words, this verse tells us so much. God loves everyone in the entire world, past, present, and future, despite the fact that all of us have been poor, miserable sinners. He loves us so much that he willingly gave up his only, perfect, Son, Jesus. He knew the terrible things that would happen to Jesus, and he gave him up anyway, so we would have the chance of salvation just by believing in him. Because of God’s sacrifice, we are able to live eternally in Heaven.
This is such an important verse. You might think that this verse is from one of Jesus’s sermons, perhaps the Sermon on the Mount or the Feeding of the 5,000 - a time when many people were listening to him.
Surprisingly, this verse was only heard by one man, who came to Jesus in secret under the cover of darkness. This man, Nicodemus, didn’t want anyone to know he was talking to Jesus. He probably worried about his job and his reputation. He had questions for Jesus, yet he wasn’t willing to talk to him in the light of day.
Nicodemus had reservations, but Jesus did not. Jesus didn’t wait for Nicodemus to build up his confidence. He didn’t insist that Nicodemus approach him when others were around. He met Nicodemus where he was at, and gave him what he needed to hear: reassurance that God heard him and loved him.
It’s true that John 3:16 references the whole world. But in that moment, through Jesus’s actions, Nicodemus learned that God loved him, specifically.
Jesus loves you, specifically, too. He is willing to listen to your questions, no matter the location or time of the day, regardless of your particular sins and shortcomings. He is always ready to reassure you that he hears you. This is true for the whole world, but sometimes we need that personal assurance: God loves you.
Your challenge this week:
Ask God a question in prayer.
Please pray:
Dear Jesus, I praise you for your perfect love. I confess that sometimes I am hesitant to talk to you. Thank you for always answering me despite my reservations. Please help me to always feel confident in prayer. In your name I pray, Amen.
