Love-the true God kind of Love-doesn’t make a list and check it twice. His love is not contingent upon who’s been naughty or nice. The one with the most gold stars doesn’t win the biggest prize. In fact we ALL received the greatest gift: “eternal life in Christ Jesus”!Romans 6:23 For “while we were yet sinners Christ died for us”. Romans 5:8
Love is a gift available to all. And just like any gift, we are free to accept or decline it. But let’s be clear: God never withholds His love! FROM ANYONE!
“Love doesn’t traffic in shame and disrespect…”
I Corinthians 13:5b The Passion Translation
Make no mistake, this is not a free pass to do what you want, when you want, how you want. No indeed. “Never again shape your lives by the desires that you followed when you didn’t know better. Instead shape your lives to become like the Holy One who called you” I Peter 1:14-15 The Passion Translation After-all, Love leads us to honor the one for whom we have affection. Love leads to devotion and faithfulness. While our behavior will never separate us from the LOVE of God, it certainly may separate us from His presence, favor, and protection.
I have been set free of sin and bound myself to my God and He to me through the blood of Christ. The fruit of this life is holiness and the gift is eternal life! Romans 6:22-23
Christ calls us to love like He loves. This love sets healthy and mature boundaries. However, this God kind of love also “keeps no record of wrongs”. I think this no record keeping kind of love is tied in with forgiveness, for “love covers a multitude of sins”. I Peter 4:8 Forgive one another, not for their sake alone, but for yours. It is the mark of the courageous to forgive when everything within you cries for vengeance. Why, the greatest movies are often about settling the score. But that’s not justice. It’s retaliation. True love isn’t interested in settling the score. In fact, I don’t think there is a scoreboard.
When Jesus was on the cross the soldiers and the people never asked for forgiveness. They didn’t seek repentance, but Jesus forgave them anyway and asked his Father to do the same. And you know what? The same salvation He offers to us was available to the very people who murdered him. He bled and died upon the cross for you and for me. We are as those standing at the foot of the cross. Let us learn to look upon the eyes of Jesus, into His heart, and love as He loved.
May we all learn to live Scoreboard Free!
Jamie Lyn's Inkwell 