God is Love – Part 2

Repentance, Not Tolerance

“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”  Luke 5:32

I think that in light of recent national events, many Christians are confused. Didn’t Jesus say “love one another,” and didn’t He spend a lot of time with very sinful people? The answer is yes, but His purpose was to bring them to repentance so that they could be saved. This is love.

Jesus brings everyone hope where they were previously hopeless, but their hope is based on letting Him heal their deepest wounds, repenting from their sinful lifestyles, and being reconciled to God through faith in Jesus.

To the woman at the well, He said, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water”  (John 4:10).

Jesus longs to replace our sinful desires with Himself. He cannot do that if we are still making excuses for sin. But there is eternal life for every single human being who comes to repentance in Him. Even in these days of seemingly increasing evil, there is hope for any who will turn to Jesus.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

 Please understand that tolerance of sin is not love. It is simply easier to tolerate evil in a country where Christians fear persecution more now than ever before. But how can tolerance of things God calls “abominations” be love when we know that lost souls are on the wide road to hell?

“Someone asked Him, ‘Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?’ He said to them, ‘Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to’” (Luke 13:23-24 NIV).

I want to encourage you this day to ask the Lord if there is someone in your life to whom He wants you to minister. Ask Him in what way He wants you to do it. It may be a ministry involving words, or a ministry involving giving, or serving, or anything else. But let Him direct your steps and words. Be faithful to complete your God-given assignments. You cannot know what they are unless you know HIM and are spending time in prayer and studying His word.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).

 Dear Lord Jesus, we thank You that you understand how hard it is to live in a world that has turned its back on everything You say. In these dark days, please train us to keep our eyes on You, and not fear what we see to the left or to the right. Teach us where and how to take the next step You have fashioned for each individual believer.  We love and trust You, Jesus, our only hope. In Your name, Amen.