Wednesday, March 8, 2023
After listening to Pastor Ben’s message, I asked myself, “Where is it easy for me to live out, in my imperfect way, God’s unconditional love?”
I spend a lot of time with elementary children, and I have to say, it is easy for me to see the diamond in every little heart—no matter how challenging their behavior. I have also had the opportunity to be around many pre-teens and teenagers, both Christ followers and not. It is still easy for me to wrap them up in the love of Jesus, regardless of any worldly traps they are caught in. When hurting adults share their stories with me, I burn to convince them that God’s offer of a new life and his promise of being right with them in their pain is more true than anything they can encounter in the physical world. And when my own kids experience their most disappointing moments, I don’t hesitate to tell them that they are always loved, accepted, and forgiven as members of God’s family.
So then I asked God, “Who in my life am I struggling to love unconditionally?”
I walked into my bathroom and spun around to the mirror. I had a gut-punching moment—I had just come face-to-face with the person who is hardest for me to love unconditionally!
A flood of recent self-condemning thoughts came to mind. I realized that although I am quick to remind others of God’s truth and promises, I don’t permit myself the same grace. Often I feel like I am on a self-made tightrope of my own expectations, and in order to truly deserve love, I must never fall off. Clearly, this pride in me is trying to make myself right with God instead of acknowledging that his grace is not something that can be earned or taken away.
What do you see when you look in the mirror—a new creation or a sinner?
2 Corinthians 5:17
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
The truth is God does not rely on us to fix ourselves. We are made right with him through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). He sees you and me just as we are and never turns away. Because, according to him, our sins are as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). No matter what you believe about yourself, just remember God is the one that is right about you.
Questions:
Where is it easy for you to live out God’s unconditional love?
Ask God, “Who in my life am I struggling to love unconditionally?”
Next Steps:
Ask Jesus to free you in the places of your heart where unforgiveness and pride are lurking.
Take five minutes to look at yourself in the mirror and identify what you have been telling yourself. Then speak God’s promises of grace over yourself.
Prayer:
God, forgive me for trying to fix myself without you. Help me understand and embrace the perfect agape love that you have for me so that from the overflow, I can love others better. Please help me pour love into those who need a touch from you so badly. Lord, show up in the places in my life that are darkest and bring the light I need! Amen.