But that He loved us.

1 John 4:10-12, In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

In our natural condition, we rebel against the very idea of God or at the least delude ourselves into thinking we can hide from Him. Scripture affirms that left to our own devices, no one seeks God despite the evidence of His hand all around us; our own culture affirms the truth of this. How is it then that anyone may be able to stand before a Holy, just, pure and all powerful Creator? Only by His great mercy, for we were once dead, lifeless in our sin and trespasses and He gave us the very gift of faith through grace to believe in Jesus and to receive His new life. And not only does He give us life, but He declares us to be righteous and sustains us. The law shows us our great need for mercy; His love compels us to follow Him!

We thank You that Your perfect love casts out fear; that in Christ we are cleansed and given new life that we may follow You!

ESV Lectionary