Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. - Galatians 3:13 –14 (ESV)

Legalese is always funny to me. I'm always wondering why and how it came to be. One that always makes me smile is the disclosure on a coupon. If you look at the top it usually says something like 'Actual Cash Value 1/10 Cent'. It doesn't matter if the redemption value is 5 cents or 500 dollars, it always says that. I guess in one sense it's not worth the paper it's printed on.

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV)

The Trinity is a mysterious and difficult idea to understand. No analogy does it justice (in fact most of them lead into or are at the edge of a heresy). Yet it is true that we worship One God in Three Person - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This week we continue our series of No One Like You as Mickey Counter opens up God's word to us.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. - Matthew 10:29-30

I wish there was a way to send my younger self an email or a letter or a voicemail. I'm not looking to cause some crazy time travel disaster. I just wish I knew then what I know now. I'm grateful for the growth and expanded understanding of the world, theology, and myself but sometimes I wish it came without the scars of learning the hard way.

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. - 1 John 4:16-21 (ESV)

If there is one attribute of God that people know and generally are comfortable with it is that God is Love. When most people conceive of a god, they make him as a benevolent deity. It is one of the three things that scripture directly and specifically says that God is. (Spirit (Jn 4:24) & Light (1 Jn 1:5) are the other two). That should make this week easy, warm, and non-controversial. Right?

Charles Spurgeon wrote:
 
“There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God’s sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that sovereignty overrules them, and that sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children ought more earnestly to contend than the doctrine of their Master over all creation–the kingship of God over all the works of His own hands–the throne of God and His right to sit upon that throne.
 

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. - Matthew 5:44-48 (ESV)

In a post on the Thought Catalog, Lindsay Zdep wrote "You know that person who seems to have it all? Well, that's me. I am, and always was, considered the "golden child" and am living a life that many would consider "perfect." A dream filled with a tree that grows money, the ability to eat cake and not get fat, and relaxing afternoons lying on a hammock. An existence where nothing goes wrong and I seem to float effortlessly through it all."  She goes on to say that's not true at all and explores things she's learned being labeled "perfect."  My bet is that some of us fall into this category of having most things feel/look perfect and maybe "seem to float effortlessly through it all" and others torture ourselves for not being perfect, or at least "good enough."