As another Easter comes and goes, and they seem to roll by faster as we grow older, I have felt an increasing receptivity to God’s love. His love was demonstrated for all eternity by the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. The power of that love was mightier than any earthly power. We were resurrected from spiritual death by the power of His love. By His divine action, He gave us many things: a new nature, a new name, a new character, a new potential, and a new authority. We are given a new and higher quality of life.

Far beyond just studying and preaching about such love, we must receive it before we can live it out. God loves us fully, but we receive slowly by degrees. There is one major sign that helps indicate whether we are progressing and growing in our ability to receive His love. It’s His conviction in us of what is good and right. Of anything that stands against true love.

And our act of repentance to His conviction means we let Him embrace us with His forgiveness, cleansing, and purifying. Instead of feeling punished, we learn to feel profoundly humbled and grateful that we are not so blind to His love as we once were.  We will see His mercy.

If we rebel against His love, we will ultimately remove ourselves from His protection. He can’t bless a lie, a lifestyle of rebellion, or a philosophy that harms us and those around us. What is not of Him will leave a trail of desolation and death in its path. 

When Jan and I take Communion together each morning, we call to mind and count the ways we benefit from Jesus’ death and resurrection. We remember His full forgiveness and full acceptance of us. We declare that He has the power to save, deliver, heal, and restore us.