Drawn to the Gospel

We often hear that God loves us unconditionally. While there is a great grain of truth in that statement, we often mistake His love for unconditional approval—as if He simply affirms us no matter what we do, how we behave, or what choice we make in life. 

God does not just accept us as we are—the deeper and more profound truth is: He loves us despite how we are. He is an absolutely, uncompromisingly holy God, and we are mired in sin. By showing grace to us, He does something far greater than merely accepting us into His family. He also transforms us through Jesus.

“God made Him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Left on our own, we are lost in sin and unable to stand before a holy God, let alone have the audacity of calling Him our Father. But Jesus, who was sinless, took our place so that we could be clothed in His righteousness. Think about it: for those who have put their faith in Jesus, when God looks at us, He doesn’t see our sins, past failures—He sees His Son. He loves us just as Jesus is!

This is divine love—not shallow affirmation, but deep, redeeming grace. Secular psychology speaks of unconditional positive regard, where people are accepted regardless of their actions. Yet in the gospel of Jesus, we find something far richer: a love that transforms, not just accepts, and restores us to our true identity in Jesus. Praise God for His full, life-transforming acceptance!

This devotion is sent weekly to staff during school terms. It has been lightly edited for a general audience.