To anyone who has ever been yelled at through a fog horn by a “Christian trying to spread God’s message” I’m sorry. If you’ve ever been told that you’re going to hell because you’re gay, or that you’re love for a band makes you an idolater, or that God hates divorce, or that the abortion you had makes you a murderer, or that your tolerance for “sinners makes you just as bad as them”, or …… I could go on for a long time. God doesn’t hate you. As a matter of fact he loves you more than you can fathom! “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
I always wonder why certain people are picked on so much, why I’ve never seen a rowdy group with hateful signs trying to ”convict” people of greed outside of a Ferrari dealership or condemning people of coveting when they gaze longingly in the window of Louis Vuitton or Tiffany’s. I think it’s clear that we are all in desperate need of God’s grace and mercy. Even now, with all the confidence in the world that I belong to Christ, I still show my humanity not only on a daily but an hourly basis. I still feel a smidge of envy when I see someone with a great pair of Jimmy Choo’s or a house with enough bedrooms for all of their kids. I get ticked off at my kids and lose my temper. I’m judgmental, and have difficulty seeing my own faults, etc, etc… It’s a good thing I don’t have to be sinless. As a matter of fact I’m ecstatic because I wouldn’t be able to come even close. But “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Galatians 2:20-21)
With that in mind, know that you will never do anything to be good enough and neither will I, and we don’t have to. Christ’s love is free; you just have to accept it. Here’s one I’m sure you’ve heard, even if you’ve never set foot in a church. Just consider it; what it says, and know that it doesn’t come with ANY strings attached. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” (Romans 8:38) Praise God for that!! He loves you and I love you too!! Have a wonderful day!! XOXO -Amber
