Brothers and sisters, we gather today seeking solace, seeking understanding, seeking the unwavering hand of love in a world that often feels cold and unforgiving. And where, in this vast universe, can we find such love? I say to you, look no further than the outstretched arms of Jesus Christ.
His love is not a fickle ember, extinguished by our flaws or dimmed by our mistakes. It is an eternal sun, radiating warmth and acceptance regardless of where life’s path has taken us. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, we see this truth laid bare. The son squanders his inheritance, falls into despair, yet upon his return, the father’s love rushes forth, a boundless forgiveness washing away all transgressions. This is the essence of Jesus’ love – a love that transcends judgment and seeks only to embrace.
But his love is not merely passive acceptance. It is an active force, a call to transformation. Just as the woman caught in adultery was met not with condemnation, but with the invitation to “go and sin no more,” Jesus’ love empowers us to rise above our limitations and choose the path of righteousness. It is a love that challenges us to be better, to love others as we are loved, unconditionally and without judgment.
This love extends beyond the individual. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus shatters societal barriers, showing that love knows no bounds of ethnicity, religion, or social standing. The Samaritan, considered an outsider, becomes the embodiment of compassion, tending to the wounds of a stranger. This is the radical call of Jesus – to love not just those who love us, but to reach out to all, especially those on the margins, the forgotten, the ostracized.
Brothers and sisters, the world may offer conditional love, love based on achievement, merit, or circumstance. But in Jesus, we find a love that stands firm, unwavering, and eternal. It is a love that heals our wounds, guides our steps, and calls us to become instruments of that same love in the world.
Let us go forth, then, carrying the torch of Jesus’ unconditional love. Let us extend compassion to those struggling, forgiveness to those who have wronged us, and acceptance to those who feel ostracized. Let us remember that we are all worthy of love, not because of who we are or what we have done, but simply because we are children of God, embraced by the unwavering love of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
By Heiko Thiede, pastor&evangelist.
FisherOfMen'sMinistry2021 