Believers Devotional Network

Jesus associated with tax collectors and sinners, and the Pharisees often questioned why He chose to mingle with those considered outcasts.

I have come to realize that many people do not care how much you know until they first understand how much you care about them. The Bible affirms this truth: “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” — 1 Corinthians 13:2.

This places love at the very centre of Christian teaching. Until the people around you know how deeply you love and care for them, your impact in their lives will remain limited.

The Lord Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. To accomplish this, He related with them—He ate with them, spoke with them, and spent time with them. Truly, God is with us.

However, God’s love does not—and will never—redefine sin as acceptable. Sin remains sin according to Scripture. Although God forgives sin, He never approves of it as something good.

In other words, God’s unconditional love and acceptance do not equal approval of sinful behaviour. God loves you and me, yet He stands firmly against all our sinful ways. This is why Jesus, after revealing His love to people, would instruct them, “Go and sin no more.”

Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The love of God welcomes sinners to receive salvation. When you truly grasp how much God loves you, His love draws you to repentance. Our loving God will never lead you down paths that destroy or condemn your soul. Instead, He leads you in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

If God were ever to approve sin one day, then Jesus would not have needed to die. Let us always remember that Christ died for our sins so that you and I could become the righteousness of God.

May the Lord be with you all, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.