Good morning, friends.

Today I want to talk about something that sits at the very heart of faith, and at the very heart of God: love. Real love. The kind that doesn’t draw lines or keep score, the kind that sees every person as precious and worthy—no matter what they look like, where they come from, or who they love.

Let’s be honest—human beings, we’re really good at drawing lines. We sort people by race, by language, by background, by who they love and how they live. Sometimes we do it quietly, sometimes out loud. Sometimes, even in the name of faith, people have said, “You don’t belong,” or, “You’re different, so you’re not welcome.” But that’s not the voice of God. That’s not the heart of Jesus.

Let’s go back to the beginning. Genesis tells us, “God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Every single person—every color, every orientation, every background—was made by God, shaped by his hands, and loved from the very start. God made all creatures, and he does not make mistakes.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Do I really belong? Does God truly love me? Even with my questions, even with my story?”—hear this: Yes. God’s love is big enough for all of us. There are no exceptions, no asterisks, no footnotes in God’s love. The diversity of humanity isn’t a flaw; it’s a reflection of God’s own creativity.

But let’s be real: life isn’t always easy. We all face pain, confusion, even rejection—from others, and sometimes even from ourselves. Sometimes we ask, “Why did God make me this way?” or “Why is my path so hard?” It’s tempting to think that if something is difficult, it means God made a mistake, or that we don’t measure up. But friends, God doesn’t make mistakes. Every part of who you are—the way you look, the way you love, the dreams and struggles you carry—is known and loved by God.

There’s always a reason, a purpose, even if we can’t see it. Good things and bad things—nothing surprises God, nothing is wasted in his plan. Sometimes, the purpose is clear. Other times, it’s hidden, something only God can see. That’s hard for us, because we want answers. We want reasons. We want to know why.

But faith means trusting that God is at work, even when we don’t understand. It means believing that all things—good and bad—can be woven together for something greater. The Bible says, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him”—not just in some things, but in all things. That includes the pain, the joy, and the mystery.

It’s not always about us, either. Sometimes our lives intersect with others in ways we never expected. Your kindness to a stranger, your courage to be yourself, your willingness to love and forgive—these things can ripple out and change the world, even if you never see the results. We make choices every day that shape our journey, but God is always weaving those choices into his ultimate purpose.

Think of the people Jesus loved. He spent his life with outsiders—the people everyone else pushed away. He welcomed tax collectors, lepers, women, foreigners, those considered “unclean.” He saw past the labels, past the differences, right to the heart. He broke every barrier that kept people apart. He was born into a world that drew strict lines, and he spent his life erasing them.

If Jesus were here today, I believe he’d be sitting at the table with the ones the world rejects. He’d be reaching out to those who feel unseen, unloved, misunderstood. And he’d be saying, “You are loved. You belong. You are exactly who God made you to be.”

That’s the call for us, too. To see each person as a beloved child of God. To let go of judgment and fear, and instead choose compassion and welcome. To remember that being different is not a problem to be solved—but a gift to be celebrated.

Maybe your journey looks different than mine. Maybe you’ve faced rejection or misunderstanding. Maybe you’ve wondered if there’s a place for you in faith, in the world, even in your own family. If so, hear this: God’s arms are open wide. There is nothing you can do, nothing anyone can say, that will make God love you any less.

Life will still bring challenges. There will still be questions, hard days, and moments that don’t make sense. But you are not alone. You are never beyond the reach of God’s love. And your story—every part of it—is a part of God’s greater story.

So what do we do with all this?

We choose love. We welcome those who are different. We honor the image of God in every person we meet. We trust that God’s plan is bigger than our understanding, and that even when we can’t see the purpose, God is at work. We remember that our choices matter—that the way we love, forgive, and treat others shapes the world around us.

God’s plan is wise. It’s full of blessings, and yes, it’s full of lessons, too. The lessons aren’t there to punish us—they’re there to help us grow, to stretch our hearts, to teach us to love more deeply. Sometimes the lessons are for us. Sometimes they’re for someone else. But always, they’re a part of the journey God has mapped out for us.

Let’s walk that path, trusting in God’s love. Let’s be people who reflect that love to everyone we meet—no matter who they are, no matter where they’re from, no matter who they love.

Let’s pray.

God, thank you for loving us—every part of us, every person, every story. Help us to trust your plan, even when we don’t understand it. Help us to love as you love, without limits or conditions. Use our lives to bring hope, welcome, and healing to the world. Remind us that in your eyes, we are all your beloved children. Amen.