Love is costly. T forgive in love costs us our sense of justice. To serve in love costs us time. To share in love costs us money. Every act of love costs us in some way, just as it cost God to love us. But we are to live a life of love just as Christ loves us and gave Himself for us at great cost to Himself.

God in His love always wills what is best for us. In His wisdom He always knows what is best, and in His sovereignty He has the power to bring it about.

God does not delight in our sufferings. He brings only that which is necessary, but He does not shrink from that which will help us grow.

Grace is the love of God shown to the unlovely. It is God reaching downward to people who are in rebellion against him.

The assurance of His total forgiveness of our sins through the blood of Christ means we don't have to play defensive games anymore. We don't have to rationalize and excuse our sins. We can call sin exactly what it is, regardless of how ugly and shameful it may be, because we know that Jesus bore that sin in His body on the cross.

A willingness to share our possessions with one another is a very important aspect of true biblical community.

Even our tears of repentance need to be washed in the blood of the Lamb.