“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God didn’t wait for you
to get your life straight to love you. His love initiates, it doesn’t respond. While
you were still sinning…He was paying the price to restore you.
…how many of us follow
this path?
If you sin against me
and then ask for me to forgive you…I probably will.
And by that, I mean I will stop actively being angry at you. But I will withhold my affection and watch you and not let you close to me until I am sure you are sincere.
And by that, I mean I will stop actively being angry at you. But I will withhold my affection and watch you and not let you close to me until I am sure you are sincere.
That’s comfortable and
safe for me but it is not love… There is
no need to argue with me… I struggle here to… I’m just telling you what the bible
says.
Jesus said to “love
others as I have loved you” (John 13:34) so we can debate all we want but Jesus
is very clear. I must do the work to restore you even if you are moving away
from me…that is how God demonstrated His love to me - and that is how I am told
to demonstrate my love to others.
So
again, I will ask…how many of us follow this path?
Some
counselors will tell you this is unwise - but apparently, they and God
disagree. So, you will have to decide who to follow.
Let
me challenge you to take God at His word and choose to love His way…
Will
it make you happy?...I don’t know. But it will make you holy. And that is God’s
purpose for your life. Holiness produces joy…and while happiness is
circumstantial, joy is permanent.
Who
in your life do you need to love while they are still sinning? What load of animosity have you been carrying
that you need to drop today?
What
person or group of people, do you need to reach out to and offer the redemptive
love of God to… even though they don’t love you?
The
instructions are clear. You must initiate restoration. The Holy Spirit will
enable you to do it…. You just have to decide to obey.
I
am not sure what it will do for the person you decide to love - but I am
positive what it will do for you.
“There
but for the grace of God go I.” – John Bradford
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