the word of the day: gave
Our God is so good! His goodness is beyond description, and the limitations of our language simply cannot give justice to the countless ways God demonstrates His goodness to us. Scripture declares the most amazing act of kindness in recorded history in John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” For us, God’s beloved, He GAVE his Son to grant us eternal life! He didn’t have to, He chose to. God’s generosity redeems us from the weight of our sins and pays a debt we could never settle ourselves. Jesus Christ GAVE His life to pay the penalty of our impossible debt. When we believe and trust Jesus as Lord, we become children of God. John 1:12 says, “…to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”There is today’s word again: GAVE. He didn’t have to adopt us. He chose to adopt us out of His love for us. On Good Friday, we celebrate God’s gift of indescribable goodness and Jesus’ undeniable sacrifice!
What can we give to God in return? No gift seems good enough, big enough, valuable enough. Even as adopted children of the King, we possess no item of such worth. No thing compares. So, what is our freedom from sin worth?
I was struggling with how to answer this question personally as I attempted to finish writing this article for you, and do you know where my answer came from? Facebook, of all places. (I identify with your shock because I reacted the same way. God is so good!) There is a group of women in Little Rock, Arkansas writing blog posts that spur others on to love and good works, inspired by God’s word. Thank you, Brandi Schroeder for reminding me of Jesus’ prayer for us before He 
went to the cross, recorded in John 17:21-23: “I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me. I gave them the same glory you gave me, so that they may be one, just as you and I are one: I in them and you in me, so that they may be completely one, in order that the world may know that you sent me and that you love them as you love me.” (emphasis mine) Brandi writes, “What a gift to have Jesus praying for us. We are a privileged people to be thought of by the Son of God.” So, what does Jesus ask? That we be one. That we set aside our differences and consider others’ needs before our own. May this be the gift we offer our Lord on this Good Friday.
by Amy Stafford
Panama City Beach, FL
Amy Stafford is the President of Body & Soul® Fitness, certified personal trainer, ACE faculty and ACE Group Fitness Instructor. She is a leader in the fitness industry and is a popular speaker for women's events, retreats, fitness conferences. For information on booking Amy for your event or for an interview please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Amy currently resides in the Panama City Beach, FL area and teaches virtually. 
