The ONE THING for June 25, 2012: A Call for Men (and Women) to Pray – 8/28 Days of Developing a Prayer Life

Good morning brothers and sisters!

I pray that you are off to a good start this morning.  This morning in my prayer time, I reflected on John 3:14-16

• ¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Surely I’ve noticed this before, but this morning I was hit with how important the cross is to understanding John 3:16.  John 3:16 is a familiar verse, however, it is seldom read in its full context.  To really understand John 3:16 you must see in it light of Jesus’ death on the cross.

Also, the expression “eternal life” is first mentioned by John in this passage.  Once again, without the cross of Jesus, eternal life is not possible.

Bottom line, the cross of Jesus Christ colors everything about our lives.  How about today, in our prayer times, let’s keep the cross central?  As Paul said, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14)

On a personal note, please join with me in prayer for my granddaughter, Ella Grace.  She appears to be fighting a “bug” of some kind that just won’t give up.  Please pray for her healing.  Many thanks, dlk