COVID-19 Novel Encouragement Sample

God Loves You

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

The daily Novel Encouragement has empowered many of our lives with the Word of God. I want to first give praise to God who has granted us abundant grace and peace. While praying about what to write, I was led to dig deeper into the love of God and ended up at John 3:16.

“God so loved the world!” His heart is always toward His image-bearers and His handmade world. His love is unconditional, incomparable, and unstoppable. In this period of crisis, the whole creation is suffering, yet the Creator suffers much more. I want to invite you all to the heartbreaking love of God, our Creator.

Eternal Love of God

Before creation, God had a wonderful plan for you. His plan was to have a loving relationship with you - “to the praise of His glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:6). Even when we were distant because of our sin, His love was ceaseless. He sent his one and only Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrificial offering in order to pay the debt we owed. His agape love has exchanged our eternal penalty for everlasting life as a child of God.

Eternal Life is Knowing God

“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3

Jesus explains that eternal life is not simply a matter of time - it is a matter of relationship. We can know Him not like fans know their favorite celebrity, but with deep and intimate knowledge like that between a husband or wife, or with a firm trust in our relationships like that between children and their parents. It is a strong, loving relationship. Faith gives us the authority to become children of God.

‘The only person who dares wake up a king at 3:00 AM for a glass of water is a child - Tim Keller’

We were like sheep going wherever we wanted, but Jesus came to bear all our shame, danger, suffering, isolation, and SIN at the cross. Our loving Shepherd knows where abundant green grass is and leads us there with his rod and staff (Psalm 23). His rod and staff are the cross of sanctification and the warning stick of protection.

“…the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:6”

God so loved the world … God so loved the world…

He loved, loves, and will love us.

Stay firm in his steadfast love!

“The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” Psalm 103:8

Prayer

1. Let the world know Your love, oh God: lead your people living through COVID-19 to the way of life with your rod and staff.

2. Let the nations proclaim Your goodness and live out eternal life in an intimate relationship with LORD.

3. Let us repent before You, seek Your face, and turn back against our sin.

By Pastor Steven Roh, BICF ZGC Korean Church