No one is ever too far gone for Christ to redeem. His love is for everyone who is willing to accept it. His great sacrifice was an act of love towards us, and it will redeem and transform us if we allow it to. There is a quote by Martin Luther King Jr. that gives this explanation of love:

Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, Love your enemies. It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. Just keep being friendly to that person. Just keep loving them, and they cannot stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they will hate you a little more at that transition period, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your love, they will break down under the load. That is love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says love.²

Before coming to Christ, we were enemies of God. Separated from him by sin. We most likely felt a sense of unworthiness and guilt at the fact that someone would love and accept us just as we were. But once we accepted His love, it started working in us… redeeming and restoring us. And just as we have experienced the blessing of having a personal relationship with Jesus, God longs for others to find their way to Him as well. This is where we come in. We are the bridge that God wants to use to connect others to Him. He wants His great love to be known by those who need it most. As we read in John 13:34-35: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

We are all works in progress and we will always be learning from His Word, but the important thing is that we act on what we do know. We were not meant to be perfect… we just need to be obedient. People will know we are disciples of Christ, not by how much we know or how perfect our life is, but by our love for others.

Our past is behind us and there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.² His plans are great, and we may not know it all right now, but love is always a good place to start.

Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for loving me, forgiving me, and choosing me to be your child. Not because of what I have done, but because of who I am in Jesus. Thank you for erasing my sins and making all things new. Use me to be a testimony to others of your love, grace, and mercy. May they come to know you and experience your great faithfulness. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

1. Isaiah 44:22 (NLT).
2. Martin Luther King Jr., A Knock at Midnight: Inspiration from the Great Sermons of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Encounter for today was written by: Crystal B.