This is the season of Lent, where we focus on repentance and change. There is a hymn that we've been singing at RHVC over the last few weeks. It's called "Here is Love". It was written during the Welsh Revival in the middle part of the 19th century. Here's first verse.

Here is love, vast as the ocean, Lovingkindness as the flood, When the Prince of Life, our Ransom, Shed for us His precious blood. Who His love will not remember? Who can cease to sing His praise? He can never be forgotten, Throughout Heav’n’s eternal days.

There are so many competing visions of our Savior. If your vision tells you that God sent Jesus so he could take out all of his violent rage on him, and that he might do the same to you if you're not careful, then read this second verse of the same hymn.

On the mount of crucifixion, Fountains opened deep and wide; Through the floodgates of God’s mercy Flowed a vast and gracious tide. Grace and love, like mighty rivers, Poured incessant from above, And Heav’n’s peace and perfect justice Kissed a guilty world in love.

God sent our Savior not because he hates sin, but because he loves people and cannot bear to let us go.

There are so many competing visions about what our response to the cross should be. If your vision tells you that God tolerates you as long as you don't screw up, that you have to be really careful not to break the rules and make him angry, and that your response to him should be obedience out of sheer terror, then read this third verse.

Let me all Thy love accepting, Love Thee, ever all my days; Let me seek Thy kingdom only And my life be to Thy praise; Thou alone shalt be my glory, Nothing in the world I see. Thou hast cleansed and sanctified me, Thou Thyself hast set me free.

God accepts you completely, every single part, exactly as you are at this moment. When you are mired in the most revolting sin you can think of, that's when his love blazes with the most intensity.

Repent of your misconceptions of Him. Repent of the pain you bear because you think that you have to. Turn away from the life you've settled for and accept his best for you. That is the message of this hymn. That is the message of Lent.