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Passing the Test

  • Max Lucado Pastor and Author
  • Published Oct 18, 2002
Passing the Test

Real Love Changes People. After all, didn't God's love change you? Weren't you blind? You couldn't see beyond the grave. You couldn't see your purpose in life until he showed you. And you couldn't hear either. Oh, your ears functioned, but your heart didn't understand. You'd never heard of such love and kindness, and you never would have heard of it, but God spoke in your language. And, most of all, he set you free. You are free! Free to run away. Free to harden your heart. Free to duck down side streets and hide behind trash cans. But you don't. Or if you do, you come back. Why?

Because you've never been loved like this before.

God passes the test of 1 Corinthians 13:7. Does he want the best for you? "God himself does not tempt anyone" (James 1:13). Every action of heaven has one aim: that you know God. "He...made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him" (Acts 17:26-27 msg.)

And does God rejoice when you do what is right? Certainly. "The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love" (Ps. 147:11 niv). Does he weep when you do? Absolutely! He is the "God of all healing counseling! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times" (2 Cor. 1:3-4 msg).

Do you want to know what love is? "This is what real love is: It is not our love for God; it is God's love for us in sending his Son to be the way to take away our sins" (1 John 4:10).

God passes the test. He should, shouldn't he? After all, he drafted it. May our goal be the same.