Unmerited Love

February 6th – Romans 12:20

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Romans 12:20

Some people are just hard to love. Those who no matter what we do, will criticize, judge, and find fault. Yet no matter how they treat us, God is very clear. We are never to repay evil for evil. (1 Thess. 5:15) Dealing with others not as mean as they are, but rather as good as God is. For when we do, Paul tells us it’s as if we are “heaping burning coals on their head.” But far from the picture of destruction these coals paint, they aren’t meant to consume our enemies with fire. Instead our coals of love are meant to melt even the coldest and hardened of hearts. Once we were enemies of God. Yet instead of giving us what we deserved, He gave us what we didn’t. Providing His Son as a path of reconciliation so He could call us His beloved. And when we too choose compassion over revenge, sharing the grace of God with others, we show the Lord how thankful we are for the unmerited love He so generously gives to us.

 

February 6th – Romans 12:20 Read More »

January 15th – Psalm 71:23

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Psalm 71:23

The Christian life is meant to be one of joy and celebration. A celebration of all God is and His amazing, unmerited blessings. David knew this well. The psalms he wrote, no matter the subject, were songs from his heart to the heart of his beloved Creator. All in worship to the God who was his everything. No matter what he faced, David had an unquenchable inner joy. A joy stemming from his great love for God. One that put a song on his lips and made his heart burst into singing praises to the Lord. As lovers of God, we too should have a song in our heart. One that yearns to burst from our lips and sing the praises of God. For once we were dead in our sin, and enemies of the Lord. Yet from His great love, God redeemed, adopted, and provided a path to eternal life. And if that wasn’t enough, He is intimately involved in every aspect of our lives as our Father, Comforter, Provider, and Friend. Knowing all of this, how can we not have that same inner joy as David!

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November 26th – Galatians 1:8

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Galatians 1:8

I am thankful for the true Gospel of Jesus Christ

The adding and taking away from God’s Word is pretty serious business. So serious Paul doesn’t just tell us to stay away from those who teach a distorted gospel, he calls for a curse upon them. As fallen people with fallen hearts, we cannot fathom such a pure, perfect, and unconditional love as is God’s love. A love whose height knows no limits, and whose depth knows no end. And most wonderful of all a love not earned, but offered freely to everyone who receives Jesus as their Savior. That’s why in our human frailty people twist and turn the gospel to fit their narrative. But the true Good News is this. Once we were dead in sin, separated from our Father in heaven. But through the grace of God and the blood of His only begotten Son, we can be reconciled back to our Father in heaven forever.  Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation. This is unmerited grace. This is unmerited love. And this is the one and only true gospel!

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November 16th – John 3:36

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John 3:36

I am thankful that all who receive Jesus as their Savior will never see the fires of hell.

As the writer of the book of Revelation, John described some pretty horrific things that will happen to those who face the wrath of God. The Greek term for wrath is orgē. It refers to the righteous anger of a judge who is issuing punishment for a crime. And what is the crime? Rejecting the gospel of Jesus Christ and refusing to receive Him as Lord and Savior. From the beginning, in His unmerited love, God sent His only Son to become the perfect sin sacrifice. Through His work on the Cross, Jesus paved the way for us to have eternal life. And because God wants us to come to Him freely, willingly, and lovingly, He gives us a choice. To receive His gift of an eternity spent by His side, or face the horrible alternative. Because those who refuse to receive Jesus as Lord, face an eternity in the “outer darkness” of hell where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30).

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November 7th – 1 John 4:10

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1 John 4:10

I am thankful for God’s unmerited grace and love

Author Lee Wallace wrote, “Riches take wings, comforts vanish, hope withers away, but love stays with us. Love is God.” Our Father doesn’t love us because we are good, special, or worthy. In fact He knows we aren’t deserving in any way. He loves us because He is love. And it’s out of that amazing, unmerited love, that God sent His only Son to pay the sin debt that we owe. All He asks in return is that we open our hearts to Him and receive His free gift of grace. That’s it. No strings attached, no conditions to meet, no standards to reach. God loves us, and no matter how dirty, broken, or sinful we are, He wants to call us His own. He longs to pick up us, dust off the dirt, wipe away our tears, replace our sorrow with joy, and make us royalty in His kingdom forever!

November 7th – 1 John 4:10 Read More »

August 19th – 1 John 3:17

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1 John 3:17

With inflation on the rise, money is tight. And sometimes we barely have enough to take care of our own. But no matter how little we may have, there is always someone else who has less. So if we see a need of another that we can fill and choose to turn a blind eye, John says there’s no way we have the love of God inside of us. I once heard it said that it isn’t true giving unless it costs us something. Once we were destitute, dead in our iniquities, and separated from God. Yet because of His unmerited love, God gave His only Son as a substitute for our sins. And from a love for the Father and for us, Jesus gave His life to pay for those sins. So as Believers, how could we respond with anything less then the love shown to us? A love based in compassion, kindness, and mercy.  And carried out in generosity, worship, and action.

August 19th – 1 John 3:17 Read More »