God expects our trust, love, and obedience. He loves us whether or not we trust, love, and obey Him. This is His “unconditional love;” in this way He does love us no matter what we do. But we cannot be His children or experience intimate connection with Him no matter what we do. To become His children, we must actively, consciously, and deliberately put our total trust in Him and His Son. To experience intimacy with Him, we must obey Him. These are the CONDITIONS of being “born again” and being one with God.
Now, deep down inside we not only know this, but appreciate this. What relationship, what REAL relationship, has no conditions or expectations? Think of your closest friends or relatives, even the relationships that seem the easiest. Does it matter what our closest relationships do or don’t do? Can I be married without the first condition of exclusive commitment? Can my wife be physically intimate with me and any man she chooses? Will we remain married no matter what we do?
So it is with God, the most valuable relationship in our lives.
God cares about what we do because He genuinely loves us. And love that is genuine has conditions.
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