Recently I was on the road and at Liberty University in Va and at Lancaster Bible College in PA. While I was there, I heard a speaker named Dane Ortlund. For those who don't know him, he is the author of Gentle and Lowly. Gentle and Lowly is a book about the heart of Christ, and while at Liberty, Dane expanded on the central theme of the book. In Matthew 11:29, Jesus says, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (ESV). The book expands on that idea, talking about how Jesus is gentle and lowly, and how Jesus meets us where we are at.
He then talked extensively about God's grace. When we sin, when we are at our worst and feel horrible and regretful and like screw-ups, he said that that is when God loves us the most. It isn't that God loves us more than before, but rather he compares it to a parent getting down and comforting a hurting child. And Dane said that God loves us so much when we sin, even though we often think that God only tolerates us, and even when it is our fault God is there with us.
I found his teaching interesting, and it has got me thinking about the grace of God. Romans 5:8 tells us, "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (ESV) Christ did not die for us after we repented, but while we were still sinners. He met us where we were at, and He still does today. No matter how many times you mess up and feel horrible, God's love is inexhaustible and He is there with you in your pain.
In peace,
Joseph
