God’s Promise and Scripture

God’s Promise: God never stops pursuing us

Scripture: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Devotional

Merry Christmas, Onward! Extremely grateful and excited to be celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with each of you this morning. Let’s dive in.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV

Think back to your childhood for a moment…raise your hand if this is the verse you remember. Growing up, I went to church because I had to—not because I wanted to. I knew how to play the part. I knew what to say. I knew the “buzz verses,” like John 3:16. I understood the general idea of the verse, but I had no clue the magnitude of it. Because here’s the reality: God loves us so much that He carried out one of the most radical acts in all of history—He sent His one and only Son into the world to die for our sake. The baby in the manger would one day hang on a cross, all so that we could be brought back into a relationship with Him. That’s not just extreme—it’s breathtaking. From the manger to the cross, Christmas reminds us of this truth: God never stops pursuing us.

As I was dragged to church throughout grade school, I slowly started to realize there was more to it than just a place to hang out on Wednesdays and Sundays. My freshman year of high school, I joined an accountability group and was shocked to see guys who genuinely loved the Lord openly sharing their lives each week. A seed was planted in my heart.

But soon after, many of my friends began identifying as atheist or agnostic. Instead of leaning into my accountability group, I let the world shape my heart and quietly shut the door on Jesus. I tried to white-knuckle my way through life, attempting to be the “perfect kid,” all while decaying on the inside. For the next two to three years, you could name a sin—I was captive to it. I had more “friends” than ever, yet I felt completely alone.

Then, in the fall of 2013, during my senior year, my youth pastor began discipling me. Once again, my heart started to stir. I sensed that God had more for my life. I returned to accountability each Sunday, began sharing my struggles, and started to feel connected to God again. God was using His people to pursue my heart. That summer, I left for college ready to take on the world in the name of Jesus—but that changed quickly. I never established a community, and Sundays became my day to sleep in. I shut the door on Jesus again and ignored His pursuit.

Thankfully, my story didn’t end when I went off to college. God continued to chase after my heart, and at my lowest point, I knew there had to be more. I finally stopped running, stopped hiding, stopped pretending—and finally opened the door to the One who had been pursuing me all along. Now, through Jesus, I’ve found purpose. I have a Savior I look to every day. I know I’m not perfect—but Jesus is. He is the perfect model of love, humility, obedience, and sacrifice. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Why would I deserve that gift? I ignored Christ for nearly a decade, yet He welcomed me back with open arms.

And so as I sit here on Christmas, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. On this day thousands of years ago, God sent His Son to dwell with His people—to step into our darkness as the Light of the World. And the miracle of Christmas is that He hasn’t stopped dwelling with us since. God continues to pursue us through the Holy Spirit, who comforts, corrects, and compels us to obey His Word. From the Garden of Eden, to the manger in Bethlehem to this very moment, God has never stopped pursuing His people.

Merry Christmas, Onward! May we celebrate the God who came near—and who still comes after us today.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What does John 3:16 mean to you personally, especially in the context of Christmas? How has your understanding of this verse changed over time?

2. Can you recall a time when you felt God was pursuing you, even if you were running or hiding?

3. As you reflect on this Christmas season, what are you most grateful for in your relationship with God? How can you celebrate and share that gratitude with others?