Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with
(Ephesians 2:4–5)
Christ.
The aliveness of Jesus Christ is because God loved us so much he sent his Son to die
and be resurrected for us, just like he said he would. The resurrection has its roots in
Good Friday but the ultimate goal is love over hatred.
It’s important to grasp what’s taking place in the world, so you know how to live and
how to respond. Hatred has become the new “spirit of the age”; the mounting tensions
in this country are symptoms of a much deeper reality. The more you understand the
essence of human nature and human conflict, the more you understand what Jesus
was pointing to.
When sin rages, when cruelty, selfishness, and hatred rule the day, love is hard to
cultivate—even in the best of us. Never before has love been more important to cling
to; to pray, to invoke. You are going to need to be vigilant—no little grievances, no
offense, no revenge. Jesus will keep bringing you back to love, to pray love, to
enforce love. Forgiveness, mercy, overlooking offenses, breaking any agreement with
violation, hatred, or violence.
God is love, and as you call down love you call down the heart of God himself, and
you call down the power of his kingdom.
Jesus, I love you. I turn my heart toward you and receive your love. I choose love and
align myself with love and command the love of God to flow through my life.