Titus 3:3-5: Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. [NLT]
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about God’s love. I was raised in a denomination that didn’t preach much on the love of God. I was always afraid I wouldn’t quite live up to God’s requirements and would have to spend time suffering in that holding place, Purgatory. When I left that church and entered a Pentecostal Evangelical one, I carried that fear of not measuring up with me, even though I now knew that there was no such place as Purgatory.
However, it was not until I found Pastor Jim at the Loomis Assembly of God that I began to hear about the love of God. Jim preached that God’s love was ours—not because we merited it—but because of His great grace and mercy. In fact, we could not merit His love, it was God’s gift. As I listened, my thinking slowly changed.
More importantly, I began to experience God’s love. As God’s love permeated my mind and heart, I changed. The fear that I would not live up to God’s requirements disappeared. The fear that God was always mad at me and looking for opportunities to punish me vanished. I stopped hating myself and began praising God, all the while knowing that I was—AM—unworthy to receive such love.
To live in the love of God, and to teach others about God’s love and grace, became a passion. Pastor Jim has gone to his eternal reward, but as long as I can, I will proclaim what he taught me … God’s love is ours, not because we merit it, but because of His love, great grace, and abundant mercy.
Father, thank you for Your life-changing love. Thank you for Your great grace. Thank you for Your abundant mercy. Thank you that Your great love has driven my fears far from me. Amen.