Discovering what love is one day at a time
Did you ever notice, that many advertisements today boast of unlimited minutes or unlimited access, but there always are a few conditions… Certain restrictions apply. I had a conversation with a wonderful and loving couple yesterday, and it got me to be thinking more about the word unconditional.
Unconditional means not limited. It is absolute and free from imperfection, or mixture, outright and unquestionable. Free from restriction, exception or qualifications, not modified by restrictions or reservations. Unconditional means absolutely independent of arbitrary standards of measurement. Complete. There is NOTHING that can compare, or even come close to the awesome, perfect, pure, unlimited and unconditional love of God. His love never runs out. He is never distressed about our circumstances, frustrated by our actions, or done with us. He loves us because He loves us; this has nothing to do with what we do, what we say, or how we live. He loves us, period. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever should believe in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. His love is perfect and pure. The light has come into the world. His love does not have shadows. His love is for everyone everyday, every hour, and all of the time. He is the Way the Truth and the Light. His love brings life, and not death. It separates the darkness from the light and always allows us a choice. When we choose the darkness, He loves us anyway. His love for us is not based on our decisions. His love is unconditional. It has no conditions. NONE. Which begs the question, if we say we love God, and call ourselves Christians, is there any area in our lives that we choose to withhold love for others, based on a condition, restriction, expectation, rule, qualification or standard of measurement that we have set in our mind? To say we love, we must know what His love is. His love does not separate, isolate, or segregate. Love suffers long. It submits to or can be forced to endure. It feels keenly, it has quick and ardent responsiveness; it is eager and enthusiastic in its suffering. It puts up with especially as inevitable or unavoidable, it undergoes the experience, it allows especially by reason of indifference. Love suffers; it endures pain, death or distress. It sustains loss or damage; it is subject to disability or handicap…It suffers long, extending for a considerable distance, having a greater length than desirable or even necessary. Love is kind. It is affectionate, it is inclined, disposed to, has affection or warm regard for, it is motivated by affection, it is tender, loving, devoted to and fond of. Love goes towards always. Love is not indifference, disgust or intolerance, nor is it disdain, or scorn. Love never loathes, detests, resents, or looks askance at. Love is not antipathy, settled aversion or dislike. Love does not desire to cause pain or injury or distress. Love is never dishonor or disregard. Love values. Love does not parade, or lord over as marshal over those that are bound, it is not performance, love is not ostentatious, nor is it unrefined. Love does not postpone, nor does it love less or slight. Love does not retaliate or inflict punishment. Love rejoices in truth, it believes, it hopes, it endures, it is victorious, and it does not fail. Love cherishes, it looks for opportunity to serve, and it desires restoration and rebuilding and rebirth. Love is action it is sacrifice and the willingness to give without reward. Love loves no matter what. Love looks like something. Love is patient. It waits. It withholds judgment. It doesn’t manipulate situations to make it come into accordance with the standard. It waits, and waits and waits some more...and then some. Love is not controlling, Behavior Management 101 or the like. Love does not look like a series of bodily contortions (hissy- fits), mental or emotional strain, nor is it manipulation in any form. Love allows, accepts, honors, and waits. Love is active, in that it is denial of your natural tendencies to self-protect, defend and revenge. Love does not keep record. Love is meant to be given away. It is meant to be shared. He gives His unlimited, unconditional, pure and perfect love to us for us to pass it on to others. When we love with His love, we are able to give everything we have got, and we will never run out. He who believes in me out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. The river has a source and it is not itself but comes from the Wellspring, which is Jesus Christ. We do not have to hoard what He has given us, or ration it out. He always gives us more; His well will never run dry. I am continuously challenged by these commandments… "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” This Christmas Season and every day, may we give gifts of love that come straight from the heart of the Father to those around us. May each of us be filled with His fullness abounding in the power of the Holy Spirit; so that we may bring His life and love to everyone we come in contact with. That we would be unconditional carriers of His unlimited grace and love. May we be marked by authentic love for the Father and for the world.
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AuthorI have been married to my wonderful husband for 29 years. We have two young men ages 25 and 20.. This blog is somewhat of a journal and attempt for me to remind myself of my purpose and invite others to join me in keeping an eternal perspective as we move through each day. Archives
May 2023
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