I was so excited to write this blog, but then I came down with the flu. I’m going to try to write this as best I can with a headache.

My main scripture is Jesus talking about the greatest commandment.

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”‬‬

Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭29‬-‭31‬ ‭NLT

I looked at this well known verse with fresh eyes and saw what’s important to God. It’s our love. We can love God without trying to make ourselves perfect or even presentable. This is what makes Christianity stand out among other religions, it is not a works based faith. God loves us because that is who he is.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.‬‬

1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV

To know God is to love. I recently read a Bible plan about community. The main takeaway I had, was that communion with God leads to community.

“So I give you now a new commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you. For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.”‬‬

John‬ ‭13‬:‭34-35‬ ‭TPT

Of course, this can be a challenge for us. I think it is a challenge because we still don’t get how God can love us unconditionally. That brings me to this next verse.

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.‬‬

1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV

This is how Jesus loved us, he didn’t hold us accountable for our sins, but covered them, forgetting they ever existed.

So I ask you, can you believe the greatest gift you can give God is your love? That as imperfect as you may be, your love is the most important thing to God? Once you understand how perfectly God loves the imperfect, I believe you will find loving other imperfect people becomes easier, simpler.

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

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