Re:Verse reading–John 3:1-21 (day three)
“Whosoever believeth”
The most amazing thing about God is not his exclusivity. That’s simply a function of how God designed the universe to operate logically: Two competing truth claims cannot both be correct. But the most amazing thing about God is his radical inclusivity. “Whosoever will may come.” Who gives invitations like that? Everybody excludes somebody. You’ve never planned a party for which you’ve said absolutely anybody can attend. Life eventually breaks it to you that there’s an “A” list out there somewhere that you’re not on. In the grand old English of the King James translation, we read, “whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” And the grand old lyrics of a long-forgotten hymn remind us: “Whosoever Meaneth Me”. Yes, when Jesus says “whosoever”, that means you. And if it means you, then it means everybody.
People discriminate and practice exclusion. It happens in all walks of life. God created diversity and practices inclusion. Whoever believes in God through Jesus Christ is In!!
In this real world, we may have diversity but not inclusion. Organizations may have a diverse workforce but not an inclusive workforce. Some are in and some are kept out based on irrelevant considerations.
What model should we use to please God and to have peace and joy and harmony? I think we all know the answer!