Turning the Lights On | Lent Devotional Day 12

Exploring the Meaning of Jesus’ Death
March 1, 2026
Written by Dave Merrill

Turning the Lights On

Scripture:

We have known and have believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who remain in love remain in God and God remains in them. (1 John 4:16, CEB)

Reflection:

The Moral Influence view of atonement teaches that Jesus saves us by revealing the depth of God’s love and inviting our hearts to change in response. Rather than focusing on punishment or payment, this perspective emphasizes transformation through love. In Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we see who God truly is and who we are becoming. Salvation is not fear-driven obedience but the awakening of love within us through the revelation of God’s love.

Picture yourself in a pitch-black room. You move carefully, worried about obstacles you cannot see. Your steps are timid, tense, and constrained. Now imagine finding the light switch. Suddenly, the room is illuminated, wide open, and entirely free of obstacles. You could have moved freely the whole time—the danger was never real. In the same way, Jesus does not change God’s love for us; he reveals it. The cross flips on the light, showing that we were never trapped. God’s love has always been here, waiting for us to see it.

Prayer:

God, may I enter this day with a heart of full acceptance and assurance that the fullness of your love is available to me. Help me to see myself as you see me—as a person worthy of love and free from the burden of my shortcomings. I’m grateful for your divine perspective. Amen.

Reflection Question:

Where in my life have I been moving cautiously, afraid of obstacles that were never truly there? How might seeing God’s love as already present change my steps today?

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