Love

As a teacher I deal with all sorts of students, co-workers, and parents. Last week, someone asked me if I love the behaviors out of my students. My answer was that it is my goal to show my students unconditional love no matter what they do or say, but fail more than I'd like to admit. As I pondered on their question throughout the day, I realized that Jesus loves the sin right out of us. Jesus loves us so much that He lived a perfect life, died a terrible death, endured hell, and was separated from His Father. He did that for me, even though He knew that I'm not perfect. He offered Himself to us all, although the world shuns Him, kills, murders, destroys His creation and so many other little and big sins. He offered not only me, but everyone the gift of salvation. Ephesians 2:8 states, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God, not a result of works, so no one can boast" (ESV).  This gift of salvation is free. We just need to take hold of that gift and the Holy Spirit will plant the seed of faith into our hearts. The gift of salvation puts my name in the Book of LIfe. The gift of salvation allows me to stand before God on judgement day knowing although I'm not perfect, I get to go to Heaven by the blood of Jesus. The gift of salvation now guides me to love the unlovable, to forgive seven times seven, to not judge but to show grace. Now although not perfect, my goal is to let the love of Jesus flow from me out onto others to help reveal the gift of salvation.