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There is no way around it: Love is the most important thing in our lives. Without love we are lost, broken and lonely. But God’s love and grace can change that. Like Kurt Bubna writes in his book Epic Grace, Chronicles of a Recovering Idiot:
“Let me tell you from firsthand experience what I know about the love and grace of God.
It’s ludicrous.
It’s scandalous.
It’s crazy.
It’s ridiculous.
It’s healing and restoring.
And it always break my heart.
If you wandered, or are wandering – or maybe you’re running as fast as you can the other way – stop and allow God’s love and grace to consume and overwhelm you. Let it cover your sins. Never forget this tremendous truth – restoration is God’s specialty.”
God’s business is restoration with love. We might argue over doctrines or ethical dilemmas but God’s business is ultimately love. God wants to shower human beings with his extraordinary love. Are we willing to receive? Or do we rather keep busy with seemingly more important matters? We really should surrender to Love because we are nothing but bankrupt without love.
If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. (1 Cor. 13:1-3, MSG, emphasis added)
We are nothing without love, the Bible declares. But the good news is, there’s plenty of it available for anyone desiring to receive it. Because God is love. Hence, there will never be any shortage of love.
And this love is not just any love. It is transforming, resurrecting, and restoring love. Anything is possible for God. No matter how badly you’ve messed up your life. No matter how foggy your life looks like right now. No matter how low you are, Christ has been there too. God’s love conquers all. God’s love covers up your sins. God’s love redeems and restores.
“Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sins are put out of sight.
Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”
(Romans 4:7-8, NLT)
This joy is given to anyone and everyone who receives God’s love and grace. It’s a sheer gift. But it keeps giving all the days of our lives. It reshapes our lives and empowers us to trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, and love extravagantly. It’s restoration with love.
Gracious God,
Pour out grace upon grace
and love upon love.
Cover up our transgressions.
Clear our record of sin, Lord.
Restore us with your love.
Enable us to trust you steadily,
hope unswervingly,
and love extravagantly.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Q4U: Have you experienced God’s restoring love?
Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you embrace God’s love and grace!
Image courtesy of Amy Beth. Linking up today with Unite the Bloggersphere , Three Word Wednesday and #tellhisstory.
This post is part of #EpicGraceWednesdays. I am blogging through Kurt Bubna’s Epic Grace. Join me every Wednesday!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review (or any review for that matter). The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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