“God loves us the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way” (Leighton Ford). “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The Golden Text of the Bible tells us that “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God’s love is not a “because of” love, but an “in spite of” love. His love reaches out to us even when there is nothing in us worthy of being loved. His love is an act of unmerited grace.
God’s love is purposeful. He loves us the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way. His love frees us from the shackles of sin and sets our feet in a place of confidence, freedom, and hope. Those who have been loved this way can never be the same again. Because He has “so loved” us, we must love others with the same “in spite of” love. This is the only way to rise above the hatred and strife so evident in today’s world. His love moves us to look beyond outward appearance and find the hidden beauty that resides within.
“In this is love, not the we loved God, but that He loved us…Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 Jn. 4:10-11). Such love is not restricted to words, but is manifested also in the things we do (vs. 18). The only appropriate response to the love of God is to love Him with all of our being and to love others as we love ourselves (Mt. 22:37-39). This is the sum of all that God has asked of us. God loves us the way we are, but His love will not leave us that way. Seek to abide in His love and follow His will in your life.
— Glen Elliott —