Unconditional love

Romans 5:6-8

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁶ You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Yesterday reminded me of the amazing gift we received in Jesus.  The unconditional love that we have in Jesus.  He doesn't love us because we are worthy.  On the contrary, He started loving us when we were still sinners and continues to love us even though we continuously disappoint Him.  He loves us regardless of the mistakes we make and forgives us because that is how much He loves us.  He wants to know us and have a relationship with us.  His love is what saves us, not our own doing.


It is hard to imagine that someone can love me that much.  No matter the mistakes or bad choices I make, He still loves me.  When I do the same stupid thing over and over again, I know He is disappointed, but He still loves me and gives me another chance.  He doesn't condemn me or throw me away.  He just pours His love into me one more time and encourages me to do better, to be the person I was created to be.  I don't deserve that kind of love, none of us do, but He loves us anyway, no matter what.


NO MATTER WHAT!


Not like I forgot, but yesterday reminded me of God's unconditional love for us.  It is because God first loved me, that I know how to love.  If God can love me, no matter how many mistakes I make, why should I not show the same love?  How could I possibly justify loving anyone any other way?


I can't.


Since the home officially opened back in January, there have been so many difficult days.  In the beginning, it was so difficult, people encouraged me to give up and told me if I did, it was ok, it was understandable.  Just walk away from the kids, let someone else deal with them, it is what is best.  These past 2 weeks have been extremely difficult, made worse by me being in the US and having to watch everything from afar.  Again, people told me to give up.  Not on everything, but on someone.  They said terrible things to me, said that I wasn't making the right choices, that he would never change, and so I should just give up on him.


What if God gave up on me?  What if He gave up on you?


That wouldn't be so great, would it?


Almost every day my heart is broken by one of the boys.  They make another bad choice.  They do exactly what I tell them not to.  But how is that any different than me?  I do the same thing to God every day.  I know I am not perfect and no matter how hard I try, I still make mistakes.  I realize my brokenness.  I realize I don't deserve His love and forgiveness.  But because He is perfect, because He is my Father, He continues to love me and show me the right way.  He never gives up on me.  I have a love from Him that will never end and isn't based on how good I am.  Because I know that love from him, I choose to love these kids in the same way.  I won't give up on them, ever.  I won't throw them away like others have.  I will continue to love them, no matter how many mistakes they make, no matter how many times they break my heart, no matter how disappointed I am.  


God refuses to give up on me.  What would He think if I gave up on those He called me to?