We have all heard that God loves us no matter what we do or say or believe. He loves us no matter what mistakes we have made in this life. He loves us even if we don’t love Him in return. It comes as no surprise then that whenever the question of Christian lifestyle comes up in a conversation, I often hear, “God loves me just the way I am.” This is all true, but it is not the end of the story.
Jesus Christ says, “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.” (Luke 6.35) The way in which our Lord teaches us here seems to say that we should love because God first loved us. Our Lord says, “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those love them.” (Luke 6.32)
God is calling us to a higher standard as Christians. While it is true that God loves us no matter how we believe or act, it is quite clear that He wants us to return this love by loving others. “Just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them.” (Luke 6.31) If we have been loved with no strings attached by God, then according to the Golden Rule, we should love others with the same expectation. It is not enough to simply be what we are, we must become all that God WANTS us to be, sons of the Most High.
“Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6.36)
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