Love Wins

So if you haven't heard there was a book recently released called Love Wins. The book is written by Rob Bell, a pastor of a 10,000 member church in Michigan. He has also done a video series called Nooma that has made him very popular among Christians throughout the United States.  However, Bell's new book has caused much controversy because it deals with heavily debated ideas about Heaven and Hell and God's judgement on all of us.  I'm not saying you have to go out and buy the book but it's a pretty interesting read if you have some free time. Although I don't agree with all of Bell's views I think that, in the end, God's love does really win.


Tomorrow, Good Friday, is the day when God's love is most remembered.  As John 3:16 says, "For God so LOVED the World that He gave His only son..."  He died for me and he died for you.  All the sins that we have committed and the sins that we will commit have been forgiven.  We fall short, and the penalty for that is death, but Jesus' sacrifice on the cross saves us from that. Jesus saves.


Jesus says, "If you want to become my disciples, then deny yourselves, take up your cross and follow me." He's not talking about a literal cross but we all have pains that we carry.  It could be stress from work or school, emotional or physical pain, depression, conflicts with friends and family, addiction or any number of things that we struggle with.  God doesn't care what baggage you and I have.  He loves us in a way that is greater than any love we can imagine.  


This love is often called agape love.  This love is divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, and active. It is always present in our lives and whether we are willing to follow Him or not He loves us.  However, I will tell you from experience that embracing that love and following Him is a far more satisfying life than turning away from it.  

This is why Good Friday is still good even though Jesus died.  Because, in the end, God sacrificed His only son so that we would be saved.  He loves you and he loves me and love wins.  It's Friday but Sunday is coming!


"But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed." -- Isaiah 53:5