As we journey together through Lent, Christians throughout Columbia will be sharing their own beautifully written personal meditations. Each will be accompanied by a corresponding scripture reading, and be linked to that passage in the Holy Bible. If you would like to join us on Columbia’s Lenten journey, please submit your personal meditation by email. Especially meaningful submissions will be printed. Let us continue our Lenten journey, day by day, to its glorious culmination on Easter Sunday.
Scripture reading: John 3:16-21
John 3:16-17 are possibly the best known two verses of the Bible and probably the verses that most Christians can recite by memory. These verses alone tell us the magnitude of God’s love for us, so to know these verses by heart can bring us great peace and understanding of the Christian faith. God has given us the greatest gift of all, His love and eternal life in His kingdom through His Son.
How do we ever begin to thank Him for this amazing gift? We are called in the verses that follow (18-21) to see the light and to live by the truth. God has committed His love and salvation to us. The benefits of commitment work best when commitment is recognized and honored.
We oftentimes misunderstand the word love, outside of relationships or marriages. Love, in itself, is a commitment. “For God so loved the world,” in verse 16 means that God took the initiative to love the world, even in its imperfect state – which is a source of great comfort and inspiration.
We also are expected to love through commitment. Verse 19 reads, “…but men loved darkness instead of light.” When God says that we love darkness and evil, our first response is, “Well, no I don’t! Why would I love what isn’t good?” Upon further reflection, however, we see that in many ways we are committed to that life of darkness, such as greed, pride, envy, dishonesty, and we are desperately in need of a Savior who can commit to light when we are unable to. God is completely committed to our salvation, to the point of allowing His Son’s death so that anyone who believes in His gift is not condemned. But God needs more from us than just select areas of our lives.
We are called to commit to Him by honoring His love for us. That means we are able to live by the light and in the light in a way that shows that we’ve been saved. This is how we thank God for the amazing gift of love and eternal life.
Diana Ayers and Garrett Ayers
Daughters of the Holy Cross
and
Crew leader for Jr. EYC
Trinity Cathedral
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia Prayer Chain: Thursday, February 21
In our prayers: Mary Ellen Joiner, Elizabeth Jean Emerson, Mary Reames, Richard Smith, Claudia Strattman, Jennifer Williams, Betty Jo Carson, Gary Davis, Eddie Bolton, Doug and Sharon, John Kelchner, Elizabeth Matthews, Nedrick Griffin, Jennifer Handy, Nancy Stuckey, Annemarie Sullivan, Greg and Lisa Steele, Dean Timothy Jones, Linda Langford, Marty Fritz, Harriet Hancock, Tommy and Robby Palmer, Patty and Ted Mac Laughlin, Janet Long, Bobby Wilson, Debbie and Pat Barry, Patrick and Patricia Barry, Jordan Hill, Doris Clevenger, Charles Sigel, Bob Davis, John Whatley, Nancy Zuckerman, Charles Davis Sr., Bill Carter, Betty Peavy Frick, Joye Cantrell, Dale and Norma Sessions, Padge Arrington, Jerry Callahan, Norman Masters
Special prayers for Mary Ellen’s four-year-old grandson, Joseph Patrick, who is fighting cancer
In memoriam: G. Ross Roy, Anne Emerson Ballard Boyce, Richard Adolphus Brown, Lloyd George Beam, Dr. G. Fitzhugh Beazley, Gwendolyn Deloris Williams, Betty Matthews Rankin, Linda Sue Leath Wallace, Hattie Mae Cole Weeks, Gerald L. Reynolds, Andrew “Jack” Vaughn, Lucille May Phelps Ward,
Our prayers are with: the elderly, the homeless, all currently fighting illness, all beloved pets, our president and congress, our police officers and firefighters, all who serve in the armed forces
Columbia Prayer Chain is open to all residents of greater Columbia who would like to share prayers and receive the prayers of others. Please leave your name in the comment box or email me.
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