Love's Redeeming Work
Scripture Reading — Titus 3:1-8
When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us …
Titus 3:4-5
The title for today's meditation comes from a well-known Easter hymn: “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today.” The second stanza of that hymn begins with the words “Love's redeeming work is done.” That's a good way to describe Christ's resurrection. These words remind us that the power that raised Jesus was the power of God's redeeming love. As today's Scripture reading points out, the love that God generously pours out is accompanied by the power of God that rescues us from sin and death. Sometimes the love we show each other wields a similar redemptive power. In my files I have a newspaper article about a prisoner who was scheduled to be executed. He was eager to die because it seemed he had nothing left to live for. In his 15 years on death row not one friend or family member ever came to visit him. But then something curious happened. The media began covering his story. Suddenly people began to visit him. Former friends and several relatives?some he had never even met before?took interest in him. This outpouring of love led the man to change his mind about wanting to die. He was now eager to live. This happened because people said “I love you” to him. That's the power of love's redeeming work.
Thank you, Lord, for showing us the power of your love. Help us to show your love to others so that they can see you living in us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
About the author — Peter Hoytema
Peter Hoytema has been a pastor for nearly 30 years and has served congregations in Ontario and New Jersey. He is currently the pastor of a congregation in Strathroy, Ontario. He is a graduate of Calvin Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Grace, are the parents of four adult children.
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