Love

I have always had a struggle with unconditional love and I don’t think I am the only one that thinks that way.  Unconditional love is loving people for who they are and nothing else.  When Jesus gave His life for us we were still His enemies but He was willing to die for us.  

Think about the two thieves that were crucified with Jesus, both of them railed accusations against Him.  But at one point one of them had a change of heart and rebuked the other thief saying, “Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:40-43!!  Now think of this man, a thief, who could do nothing but repent and believe, but Jesus loved him unconditionally and saved him; this also shows that salvation is not by works but by God’s grace and our faith and not anything we can do.

How many people love you just for who you are and not for what they can get from you or for what you can do for them?  God’s Word says you will know them by their love.  How many people could say this about you, that they know you by your love?  Read what it says in 1 John 4:16-21, “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

If this is true, and it is, why do we see so much jealousy and discord amongst brothers?  It seems like if you don’t agree with someone on something then you are scorned and rejected, what’s up with that?  We need to learn to love people for who they are and not only for what they can do for us.  “God loves us just the way we are, but He refuses to leave you that way, He wants you to be just like Jesus,” a quote from Max Lucado.  

Many times we go through struggles, trials and things that we cannot understand but they are not there to harm us but to change us more and more into the image of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Sometimes we experience difficulties because of sin and it is not because God stopped loving us but it is because He does love us and wants us to repent and confess so that we will be changed.  Do you believe that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose?  Doesn’t that mean all things?  Yes, so why do we have such a struggle with this when the bottom seems to drop out and it is not because of sin?  Maybe you need to think of Job’s situation; it wasn’t because of sin but it was to make him a much better person.  And while I am on the subject, we need to love God for whom He is and not just for what He can do for us.  

David was a good example of this, no matter how tired or overwhelmed or discouraged he was, or what situation he was in, he always loved God and in the end he always made things right with Him and that was why God could say that David was a man after His own heart, because he was.  Can God say that about you?  I hope so!  Something to think about and may you have a super day!  And may God bless you and yours with His peace, love and joy and don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord for He is worthy!!