extraordinary love

A God who tenderly searches for sinners and then joyfully forgives them posses an extraordinary love. This is the kind of love that prompted Jesus to come to earth to search for lost people and save them. This is the kind of extraordinary love that God has for you.

Before we become a believer, God is already after us. God has sought after each and every person when they enter the world.

I forget that sometimes...It feels normal to me that God seeks after us once we become saved, but while we are sinners? That is extraordinary love.

As imperfect humans, we are completely incapable of fully understanding this love that God has for us. It's just that extraordinary.

In Luke chapter 15, Jesus tells the Parable of the Lost Sheep.

Jesus talks about how a shepherd had one hundred sheep and one of them ran off. The shepherd cared so greatly for the sheep that ran off, he left the nitty-nine in the open country. The shepherd was going to do whatever he could to find the lost sheep and when he would find it, they would celebrate.

Jesus told that parable to teach us that there should be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

God's love for the individual is so great that he seeks each one out and rejoices when he or she is found...

I believe that one of the lessons that we can learn here is that Jesus associated with sinners because he wanted to bring the lost sheep - people considered beyond hope - the gospel of God's kingdom.

God wants us to find the lost sheep and bring them to him...this is one of the hardest things. But Jesus really wants us to associate with sinners because there is more joy when they repent vs. when someone doesn't need to.

I honestly struggle with this a lot. When I am in an environment that I am not necessarily comfortable in, I shut down because I don't want to conform to the ways of the world. But I don't need to do that...

I can be in that environment and be me, and still have fun. I can also still have an impact. I can have an impact by being a little different. When I am like everyone else, and someone is a little different, there is something that usually spikes my curiosity. I don't think that is just a me thing either, it believe it's naturally human curiosity.

We can associate with sinners as long as we don't conform.

It's hard sometimes, but I know that the only people who I care about what they think of me is God and my fiancé. I am going to live a life for Christ no matter what the cost is, and I won't change my ways no matter what. Knowing I will be in heaven someday for all of eternity is way more important to me than fitting in for 2 hours. I care about what Rach thinks because she will be my wife someday! She knows me better than I know myself sometimes. When we are officially married it will be a covenant to God and we will always honor God through this season of engagement and forever through our marriage. I would rather be where we are at right now together, than look back 5 years from now and be like...'what took us so long to get here?'

You never know when Christ is going to return and I don't want to get caught up in making some bad choices and not having a chance to repent before it's too late. Our eternity in heaven is more important than a night of fitting in. Never let a night of fitting in affect eternity.

Yeah, that might sound a little extreme...but you seriously never know. Living a life for Christ is all that matters and the end goal is eternity in heaven.

So what exactly do I want you to get from this?

A couple things...The love that God has for us is extraordinary. Before we were believers, God sought you; and he is still seeking those who are yet lost. The other thing...look for the lost sheep. Associate with sinners, but don't conform to the ways of the world. We will be rewarded for not conforming, I am so sure of it. Lastly, remember that entirety in heaven is the end goal here. Don't let a couple nights of fitting in affect forever.