For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to Scripture… (1 Corinthians 15:3).

You know that thing where you take John 3:16 and substitute your name for “the world”?

For God so loved Michael that He gave His only Son.

Go ahead–try it with your name–I’ll wait.

…

…

That always wrecks me.

It wrecks me because I know that it’s true, yet I feel like it shouldn’t be. I mean, I’ve seen my heart, and it terrifies me. My capacity for evil is mind boggling. It really is. And the fact that He knows that–knows it far better than I do–and still chooses to love me is…

very nearly unbelievable.

But I choose to believe the unbelievable, because I trust His word. I even believe Romans 5:8–

For God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us–

even though that one snags me and drags me behind the truck for a mile before leaving me in a mud puddle, covered in motor oil and road rash.

They’re good words, Beloved.

They’re true words.

Hold to them with white-knuckled firmness.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved