Without Condition

So this has been on my heart for a few days now...actually a couple weeks. Someone I know is going through a time where she's being loved based on condition by her own family. It brings to mind the phrase "love the sinner, not the sin." Where in the bible does Jesus tell us to love based on condition??? He loved us unconditionally. So why do we feel like we GET to place conditions on our love?

John 12:34 - 35 says ³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”(biblegateway.com) 

Now I'm not saying that we have to agree with what someone's doing but we're suppose to love them regardless and treat them as such. Growing up I saw so many Christians who only loved if the person was a believer too. They felt they had the right to judge that person based on their sin. And many Christians today still do that. No wonder unbelievers don't want to come to church!! (I know this can lead to a conversation about legalism but for now I'm going to stay on the topic of love without conditions.) Too often Christians will be heard saying " I love the sinner, not the sin." That's like God saying "I love you, but I hate you." We're all sinners...saved by grace. But how did we become saved by grace?!?!? Because God loved us unconditionally. He went into the sinners homes and broke bread with them. He met the woman at the well. He met US in OUR darkest places. He didn't wait for us to come into His house. He still meets us where we are when we sin. I know I'm guilty of loving based on conditions. I find myself saying things like "but you don't know what they've done to me" or "they're so messed up" that shouldn't have an impact on me loving them. It's definitely a lesson i'm continually learning...but one I hope one day to fully learn. I don't want to be see as "that" Christian...I want to be seen as a Christ follower who truly loves people...unconditionally.

No matter the condition

Last year was a roller coaster ride of emotions and healing. I really began to struggle with the fact that God loves me no matter what condition my life, heart, etc is in...have you ever sincerely sat down and realized how vast God's love is??? It's so much deeper and wider than we can fathom. Grasping this reality was not an easy one for me. I could not seem to (and probably never will) fully understand His love. No matter what condition we are in, He loves us. He knew what we would do, the crazy decisions we'd make....yet He loves us unconditionally. Webster's defines unconditional as no limitations. To know that I am loved without limitations is mind-blowing. The realization that His love is infinite hit me as such a crazy idea. How could He love me?? I'm a dirty sinner. I'm human. I make mistakes. How could He love me so much He'd die this awful death?? How could He love me so much that He forgives me and washes everything away?? But He does. Over and over again His word tells us. Over and over His word speaks value, love, joy, eternal life into my own life. The hardest part is learning to forgive myself so that I can fully receive His love. Finally realizing this and accepting it is only part of my journey for my identity in Christ. I have a long way to go still. But I know that Daddy God loves me. And He loves you. Regardless of your past. Regardless of how you feel right now. He loves you.