Valuing the life God has given us starts with understanding just how much He loves us. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God showed that our lives matter deeply to Him. Jesus came to earth and lived among us, showing what true love, kindness, and honesty look like. He didn’t just tell us how to live—He showed us, even when it meant facing pain and rejection.
When Jesus died on the cross, He took on Himself all the wrong things we’ve done so we could be forgiven. That sacrifice wasn’t just for a select few—it was for everyone. His resurrection proves that death isn’t the end and that God’s love is stronger than anything. Because of Jesus, we’re offered a fresh start and a life filled with hope and purpose.
Valuing this gift means living each day with gratitude and intention. It’s about recognizing that our lives are precious—so we strive to love others, be honest, and make choices that reflect God’s goodness. We don’t have to be perfect, but we do have to be real, trusting that Jesus’s sacrifice covers our mistakes and gives us the strength to keep moving forward. Ultimately, appreciating the life God has given us means realizing we are deeply loved and choosing to live in a way that honors that love.
Christ died for the ungodly—an incredible truth that goes beyond human understanding of love and justice. As Romans 5:6-8 explains, Jesus didn’t wait for us to clean up our lives or become deserving; He gave Himself for us while we were still lost, broken, and even opposed to God. This selfless act reveals a love that is not earned or conditional but freely given to all, regardless of our past or present failures.
God’s love is proactive, reaching out to us at our lowest points. By sacrificing His life, Jesus made a way for everyone—no matter how far from God they feel—to experience forgiveness and reconciliation. This means we don’t have to carry the weight of our mistakes alone; instead, we can trust in the grace and mercy that Jesus offers. In response, we’re called to embrace this love and extend it to others, knowing that God’s kindness is meant for everyone, not just those who seem “good enough.”
While it is rare for someone to willingly die even for a good person, Christ’s sacrifice stands apart because He chose to lay down His life for those who were undeserving and estranged from God. Unlike human love, which often depends on the worthiness or virtue of its object, Jesus’s death was a gift of pure grace—He justified and reconciled us not because of our merits, but solely out of His boundless mercy. Through this unearned favor, we are made right with God and welcomed into His family, all because of what Christ accomplished on our behalf.
At the heart of this message is the idea that being forgiven and accepted by God isn’t something we can earn by being good enough or doing all the right things. Instead, it’s a gift that comes from His kindness and love, no matter who we are or what we’ve done. God’s grace means that everyone has a chance for a new beginning, simply because He loves us—not because we deserve it. This takes the pressure off trying to prove ourselves and invites us to trust in God’s goodness, knowing that redemption is freely offered to all.
In light of all this, we’re invited to respond to God’s incredible love with humble gratitude and a willingness to share that love with others. No matter where we’ve been or what we’ve faced, His grace assures us that our story isn’t over. By embracing the gift of forgiveness and living with purpose, we honor the life God has given us and become vessels of hope to those around us. Let us move forward, confident that we are cherished and empowered to make a difference in the world.
Minister A Francine Green, May 2026