I apologize for my lack of vlogs lately. It isn’t that Fred’s lost faith, it’s just that I’ve been kind of distracted. Maybe I’ll talk about that later.
Last week I did take time to watch the final NBA game with
sons. It was the first professional game they had ever watched all the way
through, and maybe it was for me, too.
One thing I didn’t see it that game was John 3:16. Remember
when the whole John 3:16 sign craze got started by the Rainbow Man about 30
years ago? He stuck with it for a long time, but eventually got kind of off
track, and got arrested after he took a motel maid hostage and had a stand off
with the police. Sorry Rainbow Man.
Then a couple of years ago T-Bow put John 3:16 in his face
paint during a football, back in the days when everyone cared about what T-Bow
did. No one knows what he has on his face now.
So John 3:16:
For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten
son, so that whosoever believeth on him shall not perish, but have everlasting
life.
What’s this? You say. Does Fred have the entire Bible
memorized? Sadly no. But if you went to
a Vacation Bible School or had regular Sunday School attendance as a child,
John 3:16 was going to be your one take-away.
It’s a favorite verse among evangelicals, and is kind of an
easy sell when your witnessing. Don’t want to die? Believe in Jesus and live
forever. OK, deal. Where do I sign up?
But I’ve often wondered about the less Biblically literate,
who saw a John 3:16 sign, found a Bible in a motel room or somewhere, and tried
to check it out, but accidently turned to 1 John, 3:16.
We know love by this,
that he laid down his life for us – and we ought to lay down our lives for one
another.
Whoa. That sounds way harder than just believing. Maybe I’ll
read on and see if it gets better.
How does God’s love
abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need
and yet refuses to help?
Hey, that’s even worse. Now I’m supposed to share my stuff
with people in need.
Belief is fundamental, but you may have also heard that
faith without works is dead. James 2:17. Let’s Pray.
“Dear Lord, scripture is full of places that tell us to do
more than profess. Help us to know what to do when it’s time to do more. Amen.”
