Another 3:16 worth meditating on

Perhaps we are so familiar with John 3:16 that we lose the gravity of the serious joy Jesus communicates to us:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

That’s shorthand for the Gospel.

Before Christ rescued me, I did not even know who John was, what the 3 meant, and especially why there was a colon before 16. When my eyes went open to see the light of the glory of Christ who is the image of God (2 Cor. 4:4-6 ), this truth became the deep end in which I have swam for twelve years now. The more I swim in it, the more I see my need for Jesus. Having been saved, I need to continually be saved, and one day look oh so eagerly to the final redemption.

Another 3:16

Another 3:16 is worth meditating on all the same. It comes into practical life in a powerful way. Let us consider James 3:16 :

"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice."

Think about how that truth relates to leadership . Since leadership is influence, we are all leaders on some level — in our homes, in our workplaces, in public and private — is there a disorder and chaos because of my ambitions? The command denominator in all my problems is me — a truth we must each own up to. Yet Christ can move us past ourselves, compelled by His truth, beauty and love, to live above the level of ourselves. Where He is, there is no disorder, for He is renewing and recreating all things, especially us (Col. 3:10).

Let’s continually explore our own motives, check our ambitions, and remove the idols of control, allowing a free worship of God in the Gospel of grace. For the sake of others, and ourselves.