What we love most is the most important thing of all and that determines everything else. When God comes into our life, He changes our “loves”, so that we can love him above all else. He will continue to pursue us and remove our shame even though we don’t deserve it because of the amazing work of Jesus.

“When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭2‬:‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Surely, He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, everyone, to his own way; And the  Lord  has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:4,6, NKJV.)

A moral life is not the same thing as a faithful life. God wants to have a person with a broken heart more than one with an unbroken record. Jesus said that the tax-collectors and the prostitutes will receive the kingdom of heaven before the Pharisees. Their actions were upright but Jesus said that they were like whitewashed tombs (Matthew 22:27-28). In other words, they were clean on the outside but dead on the inside. Religion is not simply about changing bad behavior! It is about heart change.

As a Christian, our faith will show in our actions and choices. Moral actions do not create a faithful person. Moral, godly decisions come from a changed heart. Morality always accompanies authentic faith but one can have a lot of morality without authentic faith. Moral behavior can be limited to outward actions but faith has to do with real heart change.

God longs for someone with a contrite heart rather than a person focused on the appearance of good behavior. No one is without sin. The Pharisees thought of themselves as having a perfect record since they followed the law carefully. The truth is no one has a perfect record. Anyone who thinks they live a sinless life is actually so full of pride that they have ruined their record. True religion and faith in Jesus are about unconditional love, grace, and forgiveness and not simply about moral decisions and behavior.

Heavenly Father, help us to keep unconditional love, grace, and forgiveness in our hearts. Please be with those who are suffering from physical pain, emotional distress, and grief. To YOU be the praise and glory. Amen