- His heart breaks with love for the sinner (John 3)
- He would treat them better than anyone else does - something they wouldn't expect from a Christian (John 4)
- He knows that the dead (physically and spiritually) will hear the voice of God and live (John 5)
- He would not pick and choose who can receive from Him (ex: feeding the 5,000 - He fed everyone in attendance) (John 6)
- He would be rejected by His family and friends who disagree with His teaching (John 6 & 7)
- He would NOT condemn them but tell them to "go and sin no more" (John 8)
- He would NOT force them to believe or live according to His Word. He knows the truth and the freedom it provides, but He also knows that judgment will get Him nowhere (John 8)
- He is a shepherd: a gentle leader, protector, and healer. He searches for the lost, broken, and hurting and knows what they need. He offers to meet those needs and endures their stubbornness. They follow Him because they know he'll provide for them and keep them safe. (John 10)
- He would NOT judge those who don't believe (John 12)
- He would disregard what others think of Him and follow the lead of the Holy Spirit (John 12)
- He would love them with agape (unconditional) love. Love is a choice to give up one's own needs or wants, not based on feelings, beliefs, or "chemistry" (John 13)
- He would be hated and persecuted by the world, and He would give His life for them anyway (John 15)
- He would rely on the Holy Spirit to grow in agape love, endure persecution, and be confident in who He is to God (John 15 & 16)
- He would PRAY (John 17)
- He would die so they can live (John 19 & 20)
In the wake of all that has been happening in America, from war to violence to denial of scripture, my mind has raced and my heart has struggled to know how a Christian should respond. How do you love someone unconditionally without saying their sin is okay? This is what the Holy Spirit showed me:
- Spend time with them, get to know them and their heart, build a relationship
- Spend time with Jesus. Maintain your own Christian walk and grow intimate with Christ
- Get to a place in Christ where they can see that you're different and want what you have
- When that door opens, teach and challenge them in the love of Christ
God loves us too much to let us live in sin because He knows that sin leads to death BUT He accepts us as we are now and gives us the love and support to become the person He created and designed us to be.
When a designer is putting together a project, they spend a lot of time planning, looking at ideas and options, deciding the best way that they want to present their image or message. They try various looks and characteristics together, play with fonts, colors, and graphics until it is just right. All of the trials along the way may be good, attractive, and appealing; but the designer has a vision in mind of what he or she wants the end product to look like. Only the designer knows perfection. When God designed each of us, He had a purpose and intention for our life. He knew which characteristics would best fit together to serve that purpose. To anyone else we might just seem "good," "attractive," or "appealing," but to the Designer we are perfect because He knows the exact purpose, image, and message for which we were created. His love and pride for His creation never fails, even if the creation fails to live up to its purpose. God doesn't cast us off and leave us to be ruined. Instead He comes and makes little changes to our character to restore us to His original vision.
God loves us exactly the way we are but loves us too much to leave us that way.
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