“Love is the affinity which links and draws together the elements of the world… Love, in fact, is the agent of universal synthesis.” – Teilhard de Chardin

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Listen to my song “Lift Up Our Voices” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

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Luke 5:4-8

After Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”

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Here we see recounted one of the famous miracle stories where Jesus advised expert fishermen, who had caught nothing all night, to try again.

The result was that they caught more fish than they probably had ever caught before.

Note Simon Peter’s reaction as he fell to the ground before Jesus and stated how Jesus should not be in the presence of such a “sinful man.”

In other words, Simon Peter says he is not worthy of such a blessing.

Isn’t this the same attitude that we see so often in those who identify as Christian?

It reminds me of a scene in the comedy movie Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail when God chastises the knights for groveling before him and claiming to be unworthy.

Worthiness has nothing to do with God’s relationship with us.

God loves us unconditionally.

St. Paul put it this way: “For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:29-31)”

Paul goes on to say that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39).

Heaven is a gift, not a reward.

What if God wants to lavish us with love?

That, my friends, is the gospel!

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Listen to the song of the day “Lift Up Our Voices” on the Give Praise and Thanks album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!