Nope. He sure didn’t.
“God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17
God did not come down to JUDGE the world. He came down to LOVE the world.
God. He’s a tough one to figure out. The Bible seems so black and white. Yet, it doesn’t. The gray space can be overwhelming. We poke and prod and study and discuss. But God. God still seems so inexplicable at times. The world goes against His very nature. Our culture and the way we treat one another does not mirror what we read. We know we live in a fallen and broken world. We also know that God is big enough to fix it and make everything better. But sometimes, a lot of times, He doesn’t. And we don’t understand.
Gray space.
Somehow, someway, we have muddied the waters. No longer is the lake of faith crystal clear. We can’t see to the bottom. We can barely see what rises to the top. Our faith is jumbled and blurred. We’ve flipped the narrative. His narrative. Somehow, over the expanse of time we’ve gone from love to judge. We’ve lost sight of God’s truest intent and character and replaced it with our own ideas and agenda.
In our minds we believe God is full of judgement first and love second.
Oh, man, do we have it all wrong.
Here’s what I know about the God I adore. He set out to love us. He was intentional with his relationship with Adam and Eve in the garden. He walked with them, talked with them, and lived life with them. They were His people; His tribe. He loved them. He loved them so much. His heart was shattered the moment they stepped away from Him. He was saddened and disappointed. But, here’s what else I know: His love never left even when Adam and Eve hid from Him. He loved them first and foremost; always and forever. Even when they wronged Him knowing that what they were doing was going against the very thing He was trying to protect them from, He loved them. His love never left; never ceased. Ever. He loved first. Always. Forever.
Were Adam and Eve held accountable for their actions? Yep. We all know they were because here we all sit living in the repercussions of that fateful choice. Yet, His love is and was always there.
Love.
It is God’s purpose.
God didn’t send Jesus to judge us. If Jesus was sent to judge, He would have never been nailed to that cross. We all know there were far better candidates to hang on that tree that day. Why did God send Jesus, then? Love. Always love. Never ceasing. Forever.
I think about my friends. I’ve heard some heavy stories lately. Stories that make you question His love. But here’s what I know. The moment that friend steps into that room and makes the most difficult decision of her life; a decision that would be (rightfully) judged by the world AND Christians as wrong, God is there. He is sitting in that room with her. He is sitting with her because He loves her. Her choice does not limit His love. Her decision does not take away His love and replace it with judgment. His love. It’s there.For everyone. Always. Forever. Period.
My other friend is going through something that carries such a burden of shame. It’s so so heavy. I cannot type these words without starting to cry. It’s another situation that makes you question God’s love and be vastly aware of the judgment piercing your soul through the eyes of others. But, here’s what I know. God is with her. He is next to her because He loves her. He loves her so wide, so deep, and so boundless regardless of the journey she is on. His love. It’s there. For everyone. Always. Forever. Period.
Maybe today you’ve muddied the waters. You’ve replaced judgment with love. It’s easy to do. I believe it is easier at times to judge than to love. Remember God. In ever situation, in ever circumstance, He loves. To the end of the age, He loves. He loved Judas even when He betrayed His son. His love. It’s there. For everyone. Always. Forever. Period.
Maybe today you feel more judged by God than loved. That’s not the God I know. The God I know is sitting right beside you. He’s been loving you this entire time. He’s just waiting for you to see Him. His love. It’s there. Always. Forever.
I may not be able to give you a reason. I may not be able to answer your “whys”. What I do know and what I can tell you is that you are loved. You always have been loved. You are valued. You always have been valued. You are His and you are loved…even if you are yet to believe. You are loved.
Just in case you’ve forgotten how loved you are, here is a song to remind you…
Love & Blessings,
Meg