I don’t know what drives hatred to do what it does. I do know that there’s so much of it these days in every form of media outlet available. The sad thing to me is that most of the angry rhetoric and hatred comes from those who claim Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

But how can you claim Jesus and not do what He did? He chose to love the people who disagreed with Him. He chose to forgive those who put Him to death. He chose to willingly bear those nails and the agony of cruxifiction for those who would turn around and blaspheme Him with an empty faith that has no basis in their lives. He died for me and I take that for granted so much.

But one thing I’ve learned about hate and love is this: love wins over hate any day of the week. Hate may win you battles, but love wins the war. Love conquers everything. Love can break the hardest hearts and turn back the most stubborn prodigal. Love wins.

And grace trumps sin every time. No matter what you’ve done. No matter how many times you keep falling into a sin and repenting of it, only to fall again the next time. No matter how far you’ve strayed. Grace trumps sin.

Best of all, when all your props have fallen, all your security has come unraveled, when your dreams have died, and when all you hoped would fulfill you turns to dust in your mouth, Jesus will still be Lord and King. When you have lost everything that you thought would last forever and when all you can do is cry out with a broken voice, Jesus will still be Jesus. He will come to your rescue even if you can’t find a voice to call out His name.

So. love wins every time. Grace always trumps sin. Jesus will be Jesus after everything else fails and fades and falls away. When every form of media is forever silenced, the one message will still resound across the universe: “Jesus died to save sinners, of which I am the worst.” Let that love of Jesus be your heartbeat.

Amen and amen.