Beth was driving her husband Jim’s pride and joy—a little green MG. He had spent every Saturday for four years restoring that car. It was his dream vehicle, something he’d wanted since he was young.

While driving, Beth swerved to avoid a boy on a bicycle. She heard the crunch of metal, the scrape of paint, the shattering of glass. The accident wasn’t her fault, but the MG was a wreck.

A kind driver stopped to help her, and though she was dazed, she wasn’t hurt. When the police officer asked for her insurance, her heart sank. It wasn’t fear of Jim’s anger—he was a gentle man—but fear of his disappointment. She dreaded seeing the heartbreak on his face.

As she opened the glove compartment, she found the insurance papers sealed in a plastic envelope. On top was a white envelope with her name written on it. Inside, in Jim’s handwriting, were these words: “Dear Beth, If you are reading this, you’ve probably been in an accident. Don’t worry. I pray you are okay. Just remember—it’s you that I love.

—Jim”

The best of us have wrecked things—our plans, our promises, our lives. We've chosen darkness over light, selfishness over love. But the cross is God's letter to us. Written not in ink but in blood, it says, “No matter how badly you've wrecked things, just remember—it’s you that I love.”

Reflection Question:

When have you most clearly experienced God's love despite your failures? How might you reflect that same kind of grace to someone else today?

Prayer Focus:

Spend time in prayer adoring God for His deep, unrelenting love. Pray that as we move forward as a church, we will always nurture a loving relationship with God and with each other. Ask the Lord to show you a specific Gateway member you can reach out to today to express His love in a tangible way.