God’s Instructions ARE His Love

Does God’s unconditional love for us mean that it doesn’t matter if we occasionally give in to sin? Can we hear His heart of love when we hear His instructions?

I was taught that God’s love was endless for me (I had a strong understanding that nothing, not even my sin, could separate me from the love of God), but because of that, I assumed that my actions didn’t really matter. What I didn’t understand then was that His instructions are an expression of His love.

Many times I thought, “I’m going to forget God just for tonight and do my own thing"—say yes to that temptation, rather than resist it "even though I know I shouldn’t. He understands, and He will forgive me in the morning.” I didn’t know that what He asked of me was only for my own good. I didn’t know that the things I wanted that were outside of His ways were ensnaring and destroying me. I learned that when things are difficult and God isn’t answering in the way and timetable that I expect, His love, grace, and forgiveness are not a free pass to give in occasionally to temptation.

I learned that God’s instructions regarding sin are more than just rules—they are a reflection of His character. He loves us so much and His highest desire for us is to be free. Now, when I see the verses instructing us to flee from sin, all I hear is love. Be free! Flee from things that war against your soul and will destroy you!

Talk with Jesus

As you read today’s verses talk with Jesus using the following points:

• Do I see Your instructions as a reflection of Your love or just rules to follow?
• Show me more of how Your love for me is reflected in Your instructions.

Prayer: Father God, when I read in Your Word passages that say to flee from sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18) and flee from idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14), I hear a loving Father showing the way of freedom for His children. I choose to run from things that war against my soul and run instead to You and Your freedom.