Why is unconditional love so hard for us?

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:34-35

We get so caught up on what is right and wrong and who should and shouldn’t do what that we miss our calling. You and I were called to love. Jesus is greater than the law. The entire law laid out in the Old Testament was given to us to show that we could not function on our own. The law pointed to our need for Christ and then Christ showed up in our need, our brokenness, our sin and loved us unconditionally.

But… sin is a big deal

Sin is a big deal. It points out that all of us are broken and need help. We can’t do anything about it on our own. Only Jesus can restore our brokenness.  

Sin always hurts people. Your response to sin should be from a place of pain because you want more, you want better for that person and for yourself. Sin hurts because we love one another. It distorts and gives us a lack of clarity.

Unconditional love is hard because it means we are to give our love regardless of whether or not someone else earned it. It’s easier to point out where others are failing and demand change. But Christ did not come to condemn, he came to heal and rescue. Our response should be the same.

Love the sinner, hate the sin

Stop saying this. Why? Because it communicates the opposite of what you think is being said. It communicates to a specific group of people that they are unworthy of love. You and I both know that in Christ we are all worthy.

When you boycott a gay marriage because you do not agree with homosexuality you are not communicating love effectively. You are working in the currency of fear and are operating in the belief that if you rob a person of your presence they will change. No. You are only shutting the door on a relationship and shutting out a person you were called to love.

Romans 2:4, NLT says, “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?”

You my friend are not perfect and Christ still loves you unconditionally. He is asking, no, commanding, that you do the same for others.

You can not shun someone into good behavior or truth. You can only love them to God. Love has got to lead the way!

The law is dead. Love is here.

Listen to Love Is The Filter.