"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romas 5:8 NLT

We seem to feel an innate need to earn God's love. If only we didn't use foul language and lose our temper, or if we attended church more regularly, we could feel more assured of God's approval. But despite all our flaws and imperfections, God loves us anyway.

It's unconditional love. We don't need to prove ourselves worthy of love: he accepts us just as we are. Before we had the opportunity to practice good behavior, before we were even born, Christ sacrificed himself for our benefit.

There's an unfortunate pressure in our society to earn love through different means. Women feel the need to be thin and beautiful to be loved. Men have to prove their strength and ability. And when we experience the inevitable rejections of life, we internalize the pain and it reinforces our fear that we just aren't good enough to be loved.

But true love has no conditions placed upon it. It encourages us to improve ourselves and fulfill our potential, but it doesn't wait until this is achieved. And God has given us the greatest example of unconditional love we'll ever need. Right now and in this moment, as imperfect as you are, God loves you.

There is freedom and joy in this truth. Yes, we should live to please him, out of gratitude and obedience, but not out of any obligation to earn his love. This he has freely given.

You don't have to be perfect to be loved.