So many people view God through the lens of fear, disappointment, distance, or religion. They imagine Him as constantly irritated, hard to please, emotionally detached, or waiting with expectation for people to fail. But when you truly look at Jesus, that image falls apart completely.
Jesus did not move toward broken people with disgust. He moved toward them with compassion. The rejected, the ashamed, the addicted, the doubting, the grieving, the sinful, the overlooked… these were the people He touched, defended, restored, and called close.
The nature of God is not revealed most clearly in lightning or judgment, but in Christ stretching out His hands out toward humanity.
So through that lens, we can understand that God does not merely tolerate people. He desires us. He loves us ‘so much’ that He gave His only Son... He gave the most precious, intimate, unique expression of Himself for humanity.
God did not send an angel.
He did not send a distant messenger.
He gave what was dearest to Him.
He withheld nothing to make a way back to Him.
He listens to the cries nobody else hears. He notices the person everyone else overlooks. He is patient with weakness, near to the hurting, and compassionate toward those who feel far away. Scripture repeatedly shows a God who pursues people long before they ever think to pursue Him.
Romans says that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. That means the love of God was not a reward for human perfection. It was an act of mercy toward imperfect people.
Even correction from God flows from love, not cruelty. Like a good Father, He calls people higher because He sees their value, not because He despises them.
Many people spend their lives begging God to love them more, while the cross stands as the eternal proof that He already does.
And perhaps one of the most beautiful truths is this: God does not ask people to clean themselves completely before coming to Him. He says, “Come.” As you are.
Come tired.
Come ashamed.
Come confused.
Come wounded.
Come angry.
Come searching.
The heart of God has always been restoration, reconciliation, healing, and relationship.
Not because humanity earned it, but because love is who He is.
~Devin
Devin Osborne
The Early Church
