John 3:16

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.”