What scars do you have?

We all have scars, some inside some out. Scars serve as a reminder a lesson learned, a lesson to be shared.

I grew up in Church , had great head knowledge of God, and great heart knowledge of those who called themselves Christians. A lot of them that I seen go to the churches on Sundays are the same ones I hung out with on the weeknights in the local bars.

I said to myself this is not what a child of God should be someone who plays a part, but I to played the part as a child of God I did not know Him as my Lord and Savior.  I asked Christ into my heart a thousand times but I never meant it,

I led worship in our church, could quote scriptures ,I knew the Bible backwards and forwards but none of it meant anything to me.

I lived life on my terms.

Mother's Day 1984 I walked into church after binge dinking all night. I would not set foot in Church until almost ten years later. I only came back to church because it profited me , God still had work to do in my life. And for the next five years of my life I fought God every time harder than before, knowing what was right and wrong. I wasn't willing to submit to Him yet.

By the world's standards I had everything you could ask for I had a job as a general sales manager for a car lot making $15,000 plus a month , money was my god and I served her well,most people didn't like me, including me.

But October 22nd 1998 it all changed when asked in a meeting at church if I left here tonight and went into eternity where would I go? and I heard God say to me that I would go to hell. I stopped in my tracks and could go no further. That night I surrendered my life to God He took my anger , He took my pride, He took my greed, He took my smoking, He took my drinking, He took my vocabulary, He took me and buried me.. I offered Him a broken vessel, He gave me Grace.

The next day I walked in and quit my job I was looked at like I was crazy but I knew I could no longer do my job in good conscience, I no onger wrestled with the Lord but started walking with Him.

Change in me was easy to see , I told God when I walked away that either I was all in or all out. I was all out to long. Now I am all in.

This is just a glimpse of what God has done for me and in me and is still doing. I bear the scars of choices I made, ones that remind me daily of the Grace I have received.

I can't boast of anything except who Jesus Christ is and what He has done and is doing in me. If it were not for His grace I would be dead or in prison for the things I have done, I can think of 10 times these 2 things should have happened, but God spared me.

God has spared each of us for such a time as this to reach the unreachable to love the unlovable for we to were once one of them.

Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won’t be tempted.  Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each person should examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in respect to someone else. For each person will have to carry his own load. Galatians 6:1-5

But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world. For both circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation.  May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy to the Israel of God! From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body scars for the cause of Jesus.  Brothers, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Galatians 6:14-18

There is a better way

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is here in John 21, the disciples return to their lives before they met Jesus, they had given up on themselves they failed and had deserted Jesus when He was arrested and crucified.

But Jesus had not given up on them, this is the 3rd time He comes to them after His resurrection, and He wants them to know how much He loves them.

He sees them fishing and says to them , did you catch anything?

For they had not caught anything all night. (Jesus was asking a rhetorical question, He knew the answer)

Then Jesus says cast your net to the other side, what He is saying is hey there guys there is a better way, My way.

They then recognize it is Jesus and come to Him.

Jesus is saying stop doing what your doing it is okay, I can't rely just on you, but you can always rely on me.

How about you, are you still doing things your way?

If so read John 21:1-17 and see that Jesus way is the only way.

When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore. However, the disciples did not know it was Jesus. “Men,”  Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you? ” “No,” they answered. “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” He told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish.John 21:4-6 

At that time Jesus said,  “I praise   You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to infants.  Yes, Father, because this was Your good pleasure.   All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows   the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires   to reveal Him.  “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:25-30

Prayer: What we must do!

When we come to God in prayer there are conditions that God has put on our prayers, yet we seem to come to God in our prayer lives on our terms, and then wonder why God does not answer us. To receive an answer to prayer as the Bible uses the term, 2 elements must take place.

" (1) We must pray in the will of God and (2) we must be on what old-fashioned Christians often call "praying ground"; that is, we must be living lives pleasing to God. It is futile to beg God to act contrary to His revealed purposes." ( A.W.Tozer)

 We seem to forget what the Bible says when we pray, we must align our will with the will of God, not the other way around which is what we usually do, and second we can in no way live our lives on our terms and then seek favor with God, living in a sinful lifestyle and defying God and His ways is an act of rebellion which the Bible calls witchcraft.

1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king."

God has not placed Himself under obligation to honor the requests of worldly, carnal or disobedient Christians. He hears and answers the prayers only of those who walk in His way. "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight . . . . If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (I John 3:21, 22; John 15:7).

God wants us to pray and He wants to answer our prayers, but we as His children must come before Him with clean hands and hearts and a willingness to submit to His authority.

There are consequences for disobedient and rebellion.

The poison of knowledge's power

America we have a problem,a God problem we have fallen for the same lie the devil used upon Eve that surely we would not die once we ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

If we as believers have an accurate picture of God then that will lead to a life of holiness : as a matter of fact that  is vital to everything. AW Tozer said this all the problems of heaven and earth, though they were to confront us together and at once, would be nothing compared with that overwhelming problem of God: that He is: what He is like: and what we as moral beings must do about Him".

We pursue knowledge believing that knowledge is power believing we will be like God because we know all things, we have been deceived ,need I remind you of the most knowledgeable and wisest of all cultures have been destroyed by their pursuit of knowledge and power, Egypt, Babylon, Greece, Rome ,Europe, Germany, all have fallen to the wayside.

Each had more knowledge than the other, yet today they are but shadows of their former greatness.

We have knowledge today at our fingertips a click away you can know just about anything, but yet we are far from the truth we are far from God our creator we believe our selves to be gods.

Genesis 3:1-7 ESV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Romans 1:21-30, 32 ESV

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.  Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.  For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.  And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Timeless Treasures

Most followers of Christ don’t need any more insights into faith, we have enough insights to last us a lifetime. The most urgent need in our lives is to trust what we have already received and know.

We need to reexamine our lives, and the authenticity of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

The challenge is to actually trust God to stop believing in our life's experiences as that is who or what we are, and know that God love us where we were, but He loves us enough not to leave us there. stop clutching what we are so afraid of losing.

We need to renew our minds daily and ask the question "is every word I had ever read or spoken about Jesus Christ what I know or if I really trusted in him. Then shouldn't I be conforming into His image?

The act of trust is a brutal and ruthless act, because it makes us fully accountable by the way we live. Trust is rare and priceless but when we really trust it is a timeless treasure .

Trust God who seeks us, and works in us, who is always working all things out for the good of those who believe in Him. Whether it be in adversity,or joy, or in tribulation trust in God’s Abba Fatherhood, His personal love for us and let Him work in us were we are.

1 Peter 1:3-19 HCSB Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials so that the genuineness of your faith — more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that would come to you searched and carefully investigated. They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when He testified in advance to the messianic sufferings and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Angels desire to look into these things. Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be serious and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. And if you address as Father the One who judges impartially based on each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your temporary residence. For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.

The names of God.

By Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope

Before we review the many names the Bible gives for God, let’s first look at the names Yahweh, Yeshua and Jesus.  Both Yahweh and Yeshua are Hebrew names. 

Yahweh is the coveniant name of God. It is a relational name that reminds us of the covenant God made with His people Israel.  Sometimes this name is written as YHVH, omitting the vowels.  YHVH are the four consonants in the Hebrew language that spell the name of God.  They are pronounced Yod, Hey, Vav, Hey.  This name is often referred to at the Tetragrammaton, which is a Greek word meaning, “consisting of four letters.” 

When Moses came to the mountain of God (Exodus 3:1), where the Lord appeared to him in a burning bush, he sought an explanation of Who God is so he could tell the people Who had sent him. God graciously revealed Himself unto Moses, providing him with an answer by saying,

“I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”  (Exodus 3:14, emphasis added)

Of the many names for God in the Old Testament, the covenant name of God, “I AM” is perhaps the most cherished. In the Hebrew it is ehyeh asher ehyeh, which is generally translated  I am that I am.  However, the Hebrew can also be translated as I-shall-be that I-shall-be. The Hebrew contains every tense of the verb “to be”-– so it can also be understood to say, I was, I am, and I shall be.  This name clearly reveals that God is eternal. 

The name Yeshua is Hebrew for the name we pronounce Joshua.  Joshua was God’s choice to lead His people into their inheritance—the Promised Land.  Typologically Joshua is a picture of salvation and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Joshua’s given name at birth was Oshea, which means salvation.  An abbreviation of the covenant name of God (Yahweh) was later added to his name by Moses, resulting in Yehoshua, from which we get the name Joshua. Yehoshua/Joshua means “God is salvation.”  (Num 13:16). 

Jesus is the Anglicanized translation of Iesus, which is the Latin translation of Yeshua.

Other Names for God
In the Old Testament we see compound names that include descriptive Hebrew words with Jehovah or El.  Jehovah is the same name as Yahweh and El is another Hebrew word that  is translated God and has a meaning of “the Strong One.”   These compound names for God are helpful in understand the nature and character of God.  They serve to better understand many of God’s attributes.

Jehovah-jireh – The Lord Will See To It  Genesis 22:14
Jehovah-rawfaw – The Lord That Makes Whole Exodus 15:26; Jeremiah 33:6;  1 Kings 18:30; Job 5:17,18; Psalms 103:3; Psalms 146:3
Jehovah-nissi – The Lord Our Banner Exodus 17:15
Jehovah-shalom – The Lord Gives Peace  Judges 6:24
Jehovah-tsidkeneau – The Lord Our Righteousness Jeremiah 23:6
Jehovah-raah – The Lord My Shepherd Psalm 23 (shepherd); Ezekiel 34:11-15 (companion); Jeremiah 3:12-16 (pastors); Judges 11:34-35 (friend); Exodus 33:11 (friend) Jehovah-Shama – The Lord is Present Ezekial 48:35; Exodus 33:14; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5; John 14:16-17; Romans 8:9
Jehovah-InKaddesh – The Lord Which Sanctifies Leviticus 20:18, 21:15, 21:23, 22:9, 22:16
El-shaddai – The Almighty God Genesis 17:1, 28:3, 35:11; Ruth 1:20-21; 31 x in Job; Ezekiel 10:5
El-elyon – The Most High God Gen 14:19, 22; Deut. 32:8; Isaiah 14:14 El-elyon – Possessor of Heaven and Earth, Part II Gen 14:19, 22; Deut. 32:8; Isaiah 14:14, Daniel 3: 26, 4:17; Psalm 56:2
Elohim – Kurios – Matthew 22:44; Luke 19:31, 33, 34; Matthew 12:8; John 13:13; Matthew 6:24; Revelation 17:14
Adonai – Master – The Lord Our God Deut. 10:17; Psalm 123:2; Psalm 110:1,5; Isaiah 6:1,8,9; Genesis 15:2

Names and Titles for Jesus/Yeshua
In the New Testament, as God is further revealed through the Person and works of His Son, we find not only Jesus’ name given in Matthew 1:21 . . . thou shalt call His name Jesus, but also a number of descriptive titles attributed to Him.  These give additional insight into Who God is: Advocate – 1 John 2:1;  Almighty – Revelation 1:8;  Alpha and Omega – Revelation 1:8, 11; 22:13;  Amen – Revelation 3:14;  Anointed One – Acts 10:38;  Apostle – Hebrews 3:1;  Author and Finisher of our Faith – Hebrews 12:2;  Beginning and End – Revelation 1:8, 22:13;  Bishop of Souls – 1 Peter 2:25;  Bread of Life – John 6:35, 48;  Bridegroom – Matthew 9:15;  Carpenter – Mark 6:3;  Chief Shepherd – 1 Peter 5:4;  Christ – Matthew 1:16;  Consolation of Israel– Luke 2:25;  Cornerstone – Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6;  Dayspring – Luke 1:78;  Day Star – 2 Peter 1:19;  Deliverer – Romans 11:26;  Door – John 10:9;  Emmanuel – Matthew 1:23;  Faithful and True – Revelation 19:11;  Faithful and True Witness – Revelation 3:14;  First and the Last  – Revelation 1:11;  First Fruits – 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23;  Friend of Publicans (sinners)- Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:34;  God – John 1:1;  Glory of God – Revelation 21:23;  Good Shepherd – John 10:11, 14;  Governor – Matthew 2:6;  Great Shepherd – Hebrews 13:20;  Guide – Luke 1:79;  Head of the Body (the Church) – Colossians 1:18;  Helper – Hebrews 13:6;  High Priest – Hebrews  3:1;  Holy One of God – Mark 1:24; Acts 3:14;   Hope – Romans 15:13; Titus 2:13;  Horn of Salvation – Luke 1:69;  I Am – John 8:58;  Judge – Acts 10:42;  Just – Acts 3:14;  King of Israel – Matthew 27:42;  King of Kings – 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16;  Lamb of God – John 1:29;  Last Adam – 1 Corinthians 15:45;  Life – John 11:25;  Light of the World – John 8:12, 9:5;  Lion of the Tribe of Judah – Revelation 5:5;  Lord of Lords – 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 19:16;  Lord from Heaven – 1 Corinthians 15:47;  Master – Matthew 23:8, John 1:38;  Mediator – 1 Timothy 2:5;  Messiah – John 1:41;  Minister (Servant)– Mark 10:45;  Morning Star – Revelation 22:16;  Nazarene – Matthew 2:23;  Passover Lamb – 1 Corinthians 5:7;  Physician – Matthew 9:12;  Potentate – 1 Timothy 6:15;  Priest – Hebrews 4:15;  Prince of Life – Acts 3:15;  Prophet – Acts 3:22;  Propitiation – 1 John 2:2;  Rabbi – John 1:38, 49;  Redeemer – Galatians 3:13; Titus 2:14;  Ransom – 1 Timothy 2:6;  Resurrection – John 11:25;  Rock – 1 Corinthians 10:4;  Root of David – Revelation 5:5, 22:16;  Sacrifice – Ephesians 5:2;  Saviour – Luke 1:47;  Second Man (Second Adam) – 1 Corinthians 15:47;  Seed of Abraham – Galatians 3:16;  Seed of David – 2 Timothy 2:8;  Shepherd – 1 Peter 2:25;  Son of David – Matthew 15:22;  Son of God – Matthew 4:3; Luke 1:35; John 1:49;  Son of Joseph – John 1:45;  Son of Man – Matthew 18:11;  Son of Mary – Mark 6:3;  Son of the Highest – Luke 1:32;  Stone – Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11;  True Vine – John 15:1;  Truth – John 14:6;  Way – John 14:6;  Word – John 1:1

Names and Titles for the Holy Spirit
Remember that there are three in the Godhead–God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  Just as with the Father and the Son we have many names for the Holy Spirit.  The descriptive words attributed to the Holy Spirit help reveal Who He is and His mighty works. (note: this list contains descriptive words and titles in verses from the King James Bible.  There will be variations of the words used in other translations.)

The Spirit of Access – Ephesians 2:18;  The Spirit of Adoption – Romans 8:15;  The Spirit of Christ – Romans 8:9;  The Spirit of Counsel – Isaiah 11:2;  The Spirit of your Father – Matthew 10:20;  The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord – Isaiah 11:2;  The Spirit of Fruitfulness – Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9;  The Spirit of Fullness – Luke 1:15, 41, 67; Acts 2:4, 4:8,31, Acts 7:55, 11:24, 13:9; Ephesians 5:18;  The Spirit of Gifts – Hebrews 2:4;  The Spirit of Glory – 1 Peter 4:14;  The Spirit of God – Genesis 1:2, 41:38; 1 Cor 2:11; Job 27:3, 33:4;  The Spirit of Grace – Hebrews 10:29;  The Spirit of Grace and Supplications – Zechariah 12:10;  The Spirit of Him Who Raised Jesus – Romans 8:11;  The Spirit of His Son – Galatians 4:6;  The Spirit of Holiness – Romans 1:4;  The Spirit of Indwelling – Romans 8:9, 11; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19; 2 Timothy 1:14; 1 John 3:24, 4:13;  The Spirit of Inspiration – Mark 13:11; 2 Peter 1:21;  The Spirit of Jesus Christ – Philippians 1:19;  The Spirit of Judgment – Isaiah 4:4;   The Spirit of Knowledge – Isaiah 11:2;  The Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus – Romans 8:2;  The Spirit of the Living God – 2 Corinthians 3:3;  The Spirit of the Lord – Isaiah 11:2, 61:1, Micah 2:7; 2 Corinthians 3:18;  The Spirit of the Love of God – Romans 5:5;  The Spirit of Might – Isaiah 11:2;  The Spirit of Our God – 1 Corinthians 6:11;  The Spirit of Peace – 1 Thessalonians 5:23;  The Spirit of Power – Acts 1:8;  Romans 15:13;  The Spirit of Power, Love and a Sound Mind – 2 Timothy 1:7;  The Spirit of Prayer – Romans 8:26;  Ephesians 6:18;  The Spirit of Promise – Galatians 3:14, Ephesians 1:13;  The Spirit of Prophecy – Ephesians 3:5;  The Spirit of Regeneration and Renewing – Titus 3:5;  The Spirit of Rest – Isaiah 63:14;  The Spirit of Revelation – 1 Cor 2:10; Ephesians 1:17;  The Spirit of Sanctification – Romans 15:16;  The Spirit of Sealing – Ephesians 1:13, 4:30;  The Spirit of Teaching – Luke 12:12; 1 Corinthians 2:13;  The Spirit of Testimony – 1 Peter 1:11;  The Spirit of Truth – John 14:17;  John 15:26;  The Spirit of Understanding – Isaiah 11:2;  The Spirit of Unity- Ephesians 4:4;  The Spirit of Your Father – Matthew 10:20;  The Spirit of Wisdom – Isaiah 11:2; Ephesians 1:17;  The Spirit of Witness – Hebrews 10:15; 1 John 5:6-9;   The Spirit from On High – Isaiah 32:15;  The Spirit from the Father – John 15:26;  The Breath of the Almighty – Job 33:4;  The Breath of Life – Genesis 2:7;  The Comforter – John 14:16, 26;  The Double Portion – 2 Kings 2:9,15;  The Earnest/Deposit – Ephesians 1:14;  The Eternal Spirit – Hebrews 9:14;  The Finger of God – Exodus 8:19, 31:18; Luke 11:20;  The Firstfruits – Romans 8:23;  The Hand of God – Job 27:11;  The One Spirit – 1 Corinthians 12:13; The Power of the Highest – Luke 1:35;  The Power of the Lord – Luke 5:17;  The Wind – John 3:8; Acts 2:2;  My Anointing – 1 John 2:27;   My Blessing – 1 Corinthians 14:16;  My Joy – 1 Thessalonians 1:6;  My Promise – Acts 2:33; Galatians 3:14;  Like a Dove – Matthew 3:16, Luke 3:22

  We’ve looked at the many names that the Bible gives for God.  To answer the  last question, aren’t Yahweh, Yeshua and Jesus enough?  Yes they are.  The reason for the many names and titles is to help us better know and understand our God. 

Unconditional love

Unconditional love, we use this term in the church, but do we understand how powerful these words are?

Jesus loves all mankind unconditionally, for He died for all mankind, the Bible says while we're His enemy and yet sinners Christ died for us! 

How many of us are sinners? 

ALL OF US, even though Christ paid the price for our sins, not all will receive what Christ Jesus has done for them by taking their place on the cross and becoming the payment for the penalty for sin, death, in their place.

Jesus forgave all who mocked  Him , spat on Him, beat Him, tortured Him, crucified and killed Him, Jesus still forgives those today who do the same things, when they come to Him ask, and repent, if Christ can do this, and He did and does,He will forgive you also. 

How do I know this, He forgave me, and forgives me still when I fail Him.

We need to give unconditional love to each other, just as we have received it, that doesn't mean we except sin, what it does mean is we tell others by how we live, what we say and do by doing it Christ way, this means we pray for others that God will work in their lives as He is ours, we forgive those who wrong us, no matter what and love them through Jesus Christ as He does us.

What conditions do we put on others so we can love them?

What if Christ loved us as we do others? 

Is our love based on what others can do for us, or based on who Christ is in us?

It is easier to say than do, but if Jesus did it, and He did! Then He is our example to live by, in Him we to can do this.

God's word says this;

Luke 23:32-35, 38-43 HCSB

Two others — criminals  — were also led away to be executed with Him. When  they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father,  forgive  them, because they do not know what they are doing.”   And they divided His clothes and cast lots. The people stood watching, and even the leaders kept scoffing:  “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One! ”   An inscription was above Him: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at  Him: “Aren’t You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us! ” But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are punished justly  because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”   Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom! ” And He said to him, “I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise.”

John 15:12-13 HCSB

This is My command: Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.

Romans 3:23 HCSB

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 5:6-11 HCSB

For while we were still helpless, and the appointed moment,  Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person — though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die? But God proves  His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood,  we will be saved through Him from wrath.   For if, while we were enemies,  we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life!   And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have now received this reconciliation through Him.

Romans 6:23 HCSB

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 HCSB

Love is patient,  love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish,  is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for languages, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.