God’s Great Gift of Love
The Book of Romans, Paul’s letter to the churches in Rome, is a foundational letter that covers many important topics in the Christian faith.
In it, Paul describes our lives prior to knowing God as being distant from God, and even enemies of God—we chose to live against His good plan for our life. He also talks about the goodness and grace of Jesus that provided us with a path back to God through salvation.
Central to Paul’s argument and experience as a Christian is found in Romans 5:8. He says that while we were still distant from God and running from Him, God sent Jesus to die for us. It is through this that God displays His ultimate love for us as children.
Paul isn’t just speaking in theory—he is speaking from experience! God met Paul in the midst of his work to persecute Christians. And while Paul was an enemy of God, God still made a way for Paul to come back to the heart of Jesus.
The same is true of us.
Regardless of what our life looks on the outside, we all start at the same place as Paul—we were all once distant from God. And it is only through Jesus that we have been brought close to Him, and are now part of His family. Today, remember that you have a way back to God, thanks to Jesus' sacrifice!
Truth Changes Everything
Think about the best news you've ever received in your life. Maybe it was a doctor walking into a waiting room and saying, "The surgery went perfectly." Maybe it was a phone call that said, "You got the job." Maybe it was two lines on a pregnancy test you'd been praying for.
Good news changes everything.
But none of those moments, as incredible as they are, even come close to the truth delivered on the first Easter morning:
"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."
Matthew 28:6 (NIV)
Jesus had been crucified publicly, brutally, and officially. He was wrapped, sealed in a tomb. There was no question. Jesus was dead. It was true.
But when His followers Mary and Mary Magdalene arrived to grieve? The stone was rolled away. The tomb was empty. And an angel met them with the most stunning announcement in human history.
But the angel doesn’t just tell the women the truth. He invites them to look for themselves. To step inside. To experience the...