Dear Friends,
This is the month where the word love is used a lot. Valentine’s Day, cards, candy, flowers, all expressions of love. When I was a pastor and officiating weddings, I would often talk about the different kinds of love spoken of in the Bible. For example, there is Philos. This is brotherly love or cherished love. Many verses in the Bible speak of this kind of love.
Another kind of love spoken of in the Bible is Agape. This love is unconditional. No one can earn it, it is freely given, period. We see this in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son….” God loved us unconditionally, so he gave us Jesus. In John 15 Jesus says, “My command is this: Love (Agape) each other as I have loved you.” Jesus is saying I have loved you unconditionally and that is what you are supposed to do.
In this newsletter, you will read about Thomas. You will read an amazing poem he wrote. Notice the unconditional love and compassion offered to Thomas. That is our greatest calling at DRM—to love everyone as Jesus has loved us. No conditions, no transactions, just the love of Jesus.
One final word about love. There is nothing you can do about it! You can’t stop God’s love. I appreciate how the Message Version interprets Romans 8, “Do you think anyone is going to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not homelessness, not threats, not even the worst sins listed in scripture…absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love!”
Grace and peace,
Dennis Van Kampen
President/CEO
This post is part of February’s Changing Lives Newsletter. This month, we’re sharing the stories of the unsung heroes that make up our custodial team in: The Light You Carry.
