“If we had a full understanding of this love of God for humanity, a joy so great would come to us, that we would promptly die because of it. From this we see how truly dull our hearts are, that only few of us taste even a few drops of this immense joy, not to mention the whole ocean of it.” –Martin Luther

Song of Solomon 8:7 Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it.

Love always wins…. over hate.

“To hate someone is to wish them dead. Well, they already ARE dead “To hate someone is to wish them dead. Well, they already ARE dead. We are all destined to die. So what’s the point in hating them? And what’s the point about worrying about being hated? Why not give that energy to loving them and praying for them as Jesus said and, in doing so, offer them life?”

Romans 3:23-24 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Love always wins… over fear.

1 Corinthians 13:7 (NRSV) Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. “bears” = stego  “roof” = cover

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.

Love always wins… over death.

1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

When hoary time shall pass away, And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall; When men who here refuse to pray, On rocks and hills and mountains call; God’s love, so sure, shall still endure, All measureless and strong; Redeeming grace to Adam’s race— The saints’ and angels’ song.

O love of God, how rich and pure. How measureless and strong O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall forevermore endure— The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made; Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade; To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry; Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky.