Muslims believe that God will love those who live in ways that are considered good and right, such as being pure and clean, doing good, being patient and persevering and loving and following the prophet Muhammad. They say that God does not love those who live their lives in corrupt, unbelieving, boastful, wasteful or treacherous ways.
At first glance, many of these characteristics of an upright life are similar to what the Christian scriptures teach: love one another as Jesus has loved you, give up your deceitful ways, clothe yourselves in Christ.
The primary and life-defining difference between Muslim and Christian views of love is that Christians believe God’s love is unconditional. It does not need to be earned. God graciously loves us and invites us into an intimate relationship as adopted children and heirs to His Kingdom through Christ!
As we receive God’s love, follow Jesus and invite the Spirit into our lives, God gives us power to love others and to live in a way that honors Him and all peoples. What a relief this is to us and to any who’ve felt they never deserved God’s love or anyone else’s!
As you prepare to celebrate Jesus’ arrival, rest in the richness of God’s love. Pray for the grace to love others, and pray that more Muslims—and all peoples on the frontier—will experience God’s love through Jesus.
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