Sacrificial Love: John 3:16
By Margaret D. Mitchell
Week of November 29, 2020
God has been highlighting John 3:16 to me as a foundational scripture for such a time as this.
As God continues to restore our foundations both individually and as a nation, I believe He is working this precept more deeply into our souls as a stabilizer.
I believe we are about to experience abundant life more than ever.
Yes, I believe we are about to enter through big, open doors.
Yes, doors (plural).
I believe we are entering into a time with many opportunities to rejoice and shine like never before—For God’s Kingdom.
I believe the economy of the USA is about to experience an explosive re-launch in the highest way, as God continues to shine His light, re-seat His people and guide us (Da 2:21-22).
God’s Word tells us that He "…uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light. He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away" (Job 12:22-23 ESV).
The Lord also highlighted Job 12:22 to me for several days. These “deeps” in this verse are defined as “exceedingly mysterious,” which means “extraordinary” and “exceptional” (NAS Exhaustive Concordance, Dictionary.com).
I believe The Lord is exposing the dark root of evil schemes while simultaneously revealing more of Himself, His wisdom and His ways to us that will help us rise and overcome hindrances. Where we have been previously stuck or delayed—individually and as a nation—we will be loosed to continue forward by the Light of Christ.
I believe that He will subdue darkness for a time, as He extends a special grace for John 3:16 to be realized exponentially.
For those who will receive, I believe He will bring us out of every pit into new life on levels that transcend what we can fully comprehend right now.
I believe we can expect God to bring what we hold most dear in our hearts full circle, beginning now and extending into the years ahead.
Some manifestations will take longer than others. But know that God is moving and will fulfill the Godly desires of our hearts as we honor Him in obedience.
Also, The Lord has revealed to my heart that He has extended His mercy seat to us for lost things to be recovered.
Lost souls are a given.
But there’s more... I believe The Lord will bring some past relationships full circle to re-establish them in our lives as He has brought reform.
By His great love for us.
You can ask Holy Spirit to reveal who these people are, as well as His timeline to you.
He will reveal His secrets as He can trust you.
Treasure His truth in your heart, and sync your thoughts and expectations with His Word above every other voice.
God’s Word will never return void, even if it seems like it's impossible. Even if it unfolds in a way that we didn't expect, His Word will accomplish what He sent it to do (Is 55:11).
Therefore, always believe!
I believe His Spirit of Revelation will open the eyes of our hearts to see deep personal treasures He has for our lives.
In regards to John 3:16, the salvation scripture many of us have memorized, The Lord had me paus and drill down into each Word.
John 3:16 AMPC says, "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life."
Dividing this scripture, we see that:
God, our Creator and Divine Magistrate, who owns all things and sustains all things by His grace, settles us in accordance with His will and spoken Word so that we may experience Him (who is Love) as our deepest welfare, on earth and even into eternity.
This is the same love with which He regards His Son, Jesus (Jn 3:35). The same love that He committed to offer and deliver His one and only perfect Lamb (Christ) to suffer, die and ascend to secure our full-circle salvation with Him (Ga 2:20). This is the same love that brought conviction to our souls to bring us to conversion. And it’s the same moral love that now lives in us as Holy Spirit fills us with good will toward God and others; even while others are still caught in a dark system that works against Christ (1 Jn 3:16, 4:11; Ro 5:8). This is love that knows no bounds and can do what is impossible for us. God (as Love) persuades us to believe Him as He releases His faith in us and keeps His promises.
He grows us in salvation, enabling us to experience "days of Heaven upon the earth" as our hearts commit to Him (De 11:21). He grows us in His character as He fulfills His purpose (nature) in us.
He enables us to receive our full inheritance as His sons and daughters. He brings the pieces of our lives together to make a beautiful whole among His body of believers as we come to know Him.
As His bride, He awakens us to have and to hold Him as our greatest heart’s desire. Better than Boaz, His constant love readies us to receive His covenant blessings, like Ruth, as we rest at His feet, agree with Him and co-labor with Him. He enables us to experience His life-sustaining power and authority that never wears out, even on earth, before it lifts us into eternity with Him.
Friends, God assures us of His promises in 1 Peter 1:7 TPT, which says, “Your authentic faith will result in even more praise, glory, and honor when Jesus the Anointed One is revealed.”
So, lets fasten our “faith and hope in God alone” (1 Pe 1:21 TPT). And “live each day with holy awe and reverence,” remembering that “the precious blood of Christ…was sacrificed for us” (1 Pe 1:19). From of a heart of love that never ends.
In Jesus’ Mighty Name.
Amen.
Margaret D. Mitchell is the Founder of God's Love at Work, a marketplace outreach purposed to share God's greatest power source - the love of Christ.
