I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) God will never reject you. Sometimes as adults, we can struggle to comprehend that we are completely loved, accepted and forgiven by God and in right standing with Him through Jesus. Unlike the way some earthly relationships function, there’s nothing you or I have done—or could ever do—that will make God say to us, “I can’t even look at you. You need to feel my rejection so you will change.” Rejection doesn’t draw people to God, so what does? Romans 2:4 says it’s the goodness of God that leads us to repentance. It’s His goodness toward us! The day we give our life to Jesus Christ, we become empowered by Him on …

I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT) God’s love is unconditional. What’s amazing is that His immense love toward us remains unchanged even when we mess up. Now, that’s important to know, because love doesn’t work that way for many raised in legalistic religion. Rule-based religion carries rejection with it. The second we fail, fall into sin, hurt someone or slide back into an old bad habit, we think God withdraws His love until we get it right or somehow fix ourselves up enough to be worthy again. That’s called toxic love, and it’s the opposite of how God actually loves us. Toxic love is a “love” that depends upon …

So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (NLT) The position we hold with Jesus is loved, accepted and forgiven. The cool thing is that once we invite Him into our hearts and begin to embrace Jesus’ culture, we discover love in a totally new way. Jesus’ love is unconditional, which is different from what many of us experience earthly in relationships. Jesus’ love says, “You’re so deeply loved that no matter what you do, God will not turn away from you.” In fact, the only One God turned His head away from was Jesus. When Jesus sacrificially became sin on the cross for us, He cried out, asking …

For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 (NKJV) Many people feel the need to shame the sin out of people. They think they are compromising if they don’t shame people for the wrong things they do. But is that what Jesus did? In Luke 19:1–10, Jesus passed by a man named Zacchaeus who had climbed a sycamore tree to get a better vantage point. He glanced up at Zacchaeus and called him by name, saying, “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today” (v. 5). This may not seem like a big deal, but Zacchaeus was the most unlikely person to host Jesus for lunch. He was a lying, thieving tax …

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John 1:14 (NLT) When Jesus came to the planet, He was the complete opposite of what was expected. At the time, the religious leaders had a certain picture of what their Messiah would be like. They probably assumed He would be full of righteous anger, judgment and condemnation, but He wasn’t. He was “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Although Jesus never compromised on the truth, He was the perfect example of what it means to be full of unconditional, undeserved love and favour, which is also known as “grace.” …