We don’t really know God until we know that God is love and that God’s love for us is unfailing. We can depend on God’s love. We often hear the term “unconditional love.” What does that mean? Is God’s love unconditional? Can we do whatever we like, and God will continue to pour out His love on us?
Often when people speak about God’s unconditional love what they are really saying is that God’s love is available to everyone. Thankfully, there is no special race or social class we need to belong to in order to be loved by God. God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life. (John 3:16 ERV)
We speak of God’s unconditional love because He is willing to forgive all sin. There is no sin that the blood of Jesus will not wash clean. When we humbly repent of our sin and ask God to forgive us, He will cleanse us. There is no further payment required, our sin debt has been paid in full. We need no longer live in guilt and shame.
In Christ we are made free by his blood sacrifice. We have forgiveness of sins because of God’s rich grace. (Ephesians 1:7 ERV)
To live in the love of God requires our willingness to turn away from sin and follow God’s way rather than our own. We can’t say we are allowing God to love us and live in hatred and self-will. To receive God’s love we must be willing to take these first three steps – admit we are powerless and a mess; get to know this amazing God and believe He can restore us to new life; turn our will and our life over to His care and humbly live there on a moment-by-moment basis.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I have gone my own way, made a mess of my life, and harmed others in the process. I turn away from living apart from you in self-will. I ask You to forgive me. I place my trust in the freedom from sin that Jesus provided for me when He died in my place. Help me to receive Your unfailing love and live in Your tender care. Amen
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