Resideናሙና

Romans 5:8 reads, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

Everyone loves a “come as you are” invitation. If you can "come as you are" to a get-together at someone’s home, it says something about the relationship you have with that person. For instance, “Oh, it’s Dave, we grew up together. I can wear my basketball shorts and flip-flops.”

You know you’re really close with someone when you can wear your PJs to their house. In other words, you don’t feel the need to cover up the less flattering parts of who you are. You don’t have to try to convince anyone that you have it all together. You can be your honest self. 

Even though we don’t feel like it at times, we have this kind of relationship with God. He is inviting you to come as you are. Most of us think, “If someone saw all the bad sides of my personality, knew all my mistakes, and heard all of my bad attitudes, that person could never truly accept me. Much less love me.” 

But God does, and God loves you just as you are. God doesn’t wait for you to get everything together before you can walk in His love and confidence. There’s no striving. God loves you right in the middle of your addiction, your divorce, your breakdown. God’s love is there on your best day, but it’s also there on your worst. Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved.”

It takes a big love to know someone completely, inside out, and love that person anyway. It takes tons of forgiveness, empathy, and strength. It’s an enormous, wondrous, God-sized love. This is exactly the love that God showed us through the story of Jesus. Think again about Romans 5:8: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

This incredible, all-encompassing, death-defying love is worthy of our attention. Take some time to meditate on the love of God today: Breathe it in, and let it fill you with joy, peace, and confidence. 

Remember, if God demonstrated it, we are called to emulate it. As you refill on God’s love, look for ways to share it with the people around you. Start with those closest to you: forgive your spouse, kids, or parents. Listen to your friends with empathy instead of judgment. Strive to understand people who are different than you so that you can love them with a God-sized love.