Devotional: Personal Choice John 3:16-18

One of the most debated hot button topics in the United States today is a woman’s right to choose for her what she will do about the life that she is carrying in her body. Some people believe that abortion is murder; thus a woman cannot choose to abort the life inside her own body. It should be illegal to kill the body inside her because all life is sacred and the government should protect all lives.

Those that support a woman’s right to choose what to do with her own body believe that no one else, especially men, has the right to make choices for the woman. Well, regardless to where you and I stand on this issue, we all must recognize that all people make personal choices every day. Whether abortion or any other thing is legal or illegal we all make a personal choice as to what we will or will not do.

God sends His Son into the world so that we can make choices. John 3:16 is possibly the best known verse in the bible. It tells us that if we believe in Jesus we will have eternal life. Verses seventeen and eighteen are less known. They tell us that before Jesus comes into the world we could not make a choice about our eternal destiny.

God does not send His Son to condemn the world. It is unnecessary. Why? Because the world is already condemned because of sin, and Paul reminds us in Romans 3:23 that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We cannot save ourselves. Jesus comes to make us aware that we are lost; separated from God. Jesus makes us aware that there is the possibility that we can be united to the Father. This is a personal decision. It is our personal choice. No one else can make the choice for us. God loves the world. His loves causes Him to make a personal choice. That choice was to offer forgiveness of sin and reconciliation. We now have a choice. We can choose to accept or reject God’s offer of His Son. If we believe we are given eternal life. If we do not believe the choice is already made. We will perish in our sins.

Prayer: Father in heaven, we thank you for choosing to offer Your Son on our behalf so that we might make a personal choice to believe in Jesus. Amen.