John 3:16-21
God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them! No one who has faith in God’s Son will be condemned. But everyone who doesn’t have faith in him has already been condemned for not having faith in God’s only Son.
The light has come into the world, and people who do evil things are judged guilty because they love the dark more than the light. People who do evil hate the light and won’t come to the light, because it clearly shows what they have done. But everyone who lives by the truth will come to the light, because they want others to know that God is really the one doing what they do.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few days ago, I saw a news report about two women in south Florida who have been on a “porch pirating” spree. They appear to be a mother-daughter team, driving a stolen U-Haul van. Police were asking for help from the public in apprehending them. The crazy thing was that there are “Ring” camera videos of these two women going from house to house in a neighborhood, grabbing packages and toting them back to the van, then driving to the next home to do the same. At one point, they got to a house with some rather big boxes – including one that was clearly marked as a washing machine. Believe it or not, the women debated whether they could haul this monstrosity to the van – and at the last minute, they decided to skip this porch!
Clearly, these were not the “brightest bulbs.” Their faces are all over the Internet now – and were shared on national television last week. They will be caught! I was truly amazed at their brazen theft in broad daylight, given modern-day technology on virtually every porch. If you didn’t know before, hear me now…People.Are.Literally.Watching!
When it comes to our spiritual lives, people are watching, too. You may think you are getting away with something, but the bottom line is that people see and hear you. This is why I believe the adage that “When you show me and tell me who you are, I believe you the first time.” When you speak ill of or condemn people of color, immigrants, those of another sexual orientation, the poor and needy, or anyone who is somehow “different,” I hear what you are truly telling me! More importantly, GOD knows!
Read these verses in John 3 again. God sent His only Son – not just for straight, white Americans of a certain socio-economic and educational level. God sent Jesus for ALL PEOPLE! ANYONE who chooses to surrender their sins to Jesus and live and serve as He commands and directs is guaranteed the privilege of Eternal Life. Those who follow Jesus faithfully are rightful heirs of His Kingdom – and granted full grace, mercy, forgiveness, and inclusion in His Eternal plans. This passage is clear that this great Gift is not extended to those who choose to remain in the darkness. But nowhere does scripture specify that certain people and groups are exempt because of some human-assigned status or label.
I have every reason to believe that by now, the women in Florida have been apprehended. Hopefully their porch pirating days are over and all of the items have been returned to their rightful owners. My prayer for you this Christmas is that you are fully operating in the love and Light of Jesus Christ…God’s great Gift to all of us…that you are truly saved and safe in His promise of Eternal Life…and that you are busy showing others the teachings of Jesus with every word and action. Alleluia!
©2023 Debbie Robus
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