Do You Understand?
Throughout the season of Lent, we have looked at the “I AM” statements of Jesus together. We have been seeking to understand His love for us. He is the Resurrection and the Life, the Light of the World, the Door, the Good Shepherd, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the True Vine, and the Bread of Life. As we have journeyed together this Lent, we have heard God’s voice ask us, “Do you understand my love for you?” It has been our prayer that we have each gained a deeper understanding of His love that surpasses human understanding and knowledge.
Today is Good Friday, and we know there is power in His love. He went to the cross for us. Easter tells us that yes, our sin is strong, but His love is stronger. We hear from God that nothing can separate us from His love. Nothing – not trouble or hardship, not persecution or homelessness, not war, demons, evil, or our sin – nothing can separate us from His love. Not even His sufferings and certainly not even His death. What kind of love is this? Anwer: powerful love, dynamite love, a love that has the power to bring life from death. A love that knows no bounds, has no limits, exhausts all, and does whatever it takes to get our attention, to get to us. So that we know one powerful truth: we are loved. Because He lives, we are loved.
As spring is upon us, it feels so good to sit in the warm sunlight and let it soak in, but how much better does it feel to let His love soak in our minds and hearts? To be still and know that the One who said He loves me actually does. The One that we will all meet face to face someday loves us.
Be loved with His love that is patient, His love that is kind, His love that is selfless, His love that provide, His love that is not easily angered, His love that keeps no records of wrong, His love that does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. His love that always protects, always trusts, always hopes, alway perseveres. His love that never fails.
Billy Graham, a man who shared God’s love with millions of people, said this, “When we preach Jesus, we preach love. When we preach His justice, it is His justice tempered with love. When we preach righteousness, it is righteousness founded on love. When we preach atonement, it is atonement planned by love, provided by love, given by love, finished by love, necessitated because of love. When we preach the resurrection of Christ, we are preaching the miracle of love. When we preach the return of Christ, we are preaching the fulfillment of His love.”
“Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternity.” – Jude 21