“The human heart is exquisitely fragile. Our judgments need to be gentle, our understanding deep, and our forgiveness wide.” - Ronald Rolheiser

When I know that I am bound to God by His unending love, I am freed. When I know that there is nothing that can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus, I can love in response. When I recognize the steadfast love of God toward me, I do not have to trade the love of God for the affection and admiration of people. When God’s love is real to me, I do not have to hoard the love I give to others.

When I realize how deeply I have been forgiven, I become quick to forgive. When I have some shadow sense of the cost of forgiveness offered to me by a sinless God, how sad when I seek vengeance for the smallest offense. When I thank God for the completeness of His continual forgiveness toward me, why would I ever allow corners of unforgiveness in my own heart?

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” - Lamentations 3:22-23

Father, the cost of my love and forgiveness toward others is but a drop in the ocean of your love and forgiveness toward me. May my life bear witness to the reality of Your heart and character in the way I am being conformed to Your image. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Amen,