Words about Love
From a sweet friend, Sue Tribby
Being in church my entire life, I have often heard the phrase “God loves the sinner, but hates the sin”. Recently, I heard that familiar phrase in a different way and I asked myself--if God loves the sinner, but hates the sin, then why is it that I, have conditional love for others at times?
While mowing the yard this week, an interesting experience happened. Another neighbor was mowing and almost finished. When they completed mowing their yard, they proceeded to use a blower to blow off a vehicle and then began to blow dirt from along their street gutter area. In seconds, I was engulfed in a cloud of dirt and dust and soon began to experience that gnawing tickle in my throat from the dust.
Continuing to mow, I thought about how God loves the sinner, covered in dust, with a tickle in the throat (the Holy Spirit is that “tickle in our throat” convicting us when we are sinners). And I thought about the times when I have blown dirt on people, instead of loving them as God loves them. I don’t want to be a “dirt blower” and I know God does not see me as that filthy, dirty person pushing the mower either. God sees me as His child, and says, come to me, and I will give you rest. Does a parent hate a child when they are disobedient? No, neither does our Father in Heaven hate us when we are in disobedience. God Loves Me, a Sinner, and God Loves You!
I Corinthians 6:11..and that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
From a sweet friend, Sue Tribby
Being in church my entire life, I have often heard the phrase “God loves the sinner, but hates the sin”. Recently, I heard that familiar phrase in a different way and I asked myself--if God loves the sinner, but hates the sin, then why is it that I, have conditional love for others at times?
While mowing the yard this week, an interesting experience happened. Another neighbor was mowing and almost finished. When they completed mowing their yard, they proceeded to use a blower to blow off a vehicle and then began to blow dirt from along their street gutter area. In seconds, I was engulfed in a cloud of dirt and dust and soon began to experience that gnawing tickle in my throat from the dust.
Continuing to mow, I thought about how God loves the sinner, covered in dust, with a tickle in the throat (the Holy Spirit is that “tickle in our throat” convicting us when we are sinners). And I thought about the times when I have blown dirt on people, instead of loving them as God loves them. I don’t want to be a “dirt blower” and I know God does not see me as that filthy, dirty person pushing the mower either. God sees me as His child, and says, come to me, and I will give you rest. Does a parent hate a child when they are disobedient? No, neither does our Father in Heaven hate us when we are in disobedience. God Loves Me, a Sinner, and God Loves You!
I Corinthians 6:11..and that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.