Unconditional Love

What is Love according to God? 1 Corinthians 13 verses 1 through 7 and the first part of verse 8 gives us a description of what love is by God’s definition. It is pretty well summarized in verse 7 and into verse 8. “[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails”. In other words the true definition of love that is recognized by God is a love that is unconditional. If you love someone in God’s eyes that love cannot be based on how nice they are to you. It cannot be based on how well they behave. It cannot even be based on whether or not they love you back. It has to be unconditional. If your love for someone is based on anything other than the simple fact that you love them then in God’s eyes it isn't love. No exceptions.

Did/Does Christ love us? He said in John 15:9 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love”. And in John 15:13 He said. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” And Romans 5:8 says that Christ’s death on the cross was God’s ultimate display of His love for us. That fact stated unquestionably in John 3:16. “For God so loved the world…” I think there should be no argument to the fact that Christ did and does love us.

Should we love one another like that? John 13:34, 15:12, and 15:17 all plainly state that it is a commandment of Christ that we love each other. And John 14:12 states pointblank that if we love each other God dwells in us. In Matthew 5:44 we are even told to love our enemies. And John 13:35 says that the mark of a true follower of Him is that we will love each other. According to 1 Peter 4:8 love will cover the multitude of sins. Why? Because if our minds are focused and conditioned to love, that love will prevent us from failing most of the tests and trials. If we have the love of the Father in us then we will desire to do good for our fellow man. Greed, envy, hatred, these would not have any place in us if we are filled with love. To love as we have been commanded will help to keep our feet on the path of righteousness.

Do we love God like that? Matthew 22:37 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind”.

It is easy to say we love God. And quite often we do love Him. When the blessings raining down we hold our hands to the sky and boldly declare our love. But what do we do in those lonely hours? Where is our heart when the world closes in? What do we do when we stumble and fall? And when the blessings seem to dry up, and the trials begin, do we still hold our hands to the sky and cry out how good and gracious our God is?  The real truth of the matter is that God deserves to be loved, not just with all are heart, soul, mind, and strength. He deserves to be loved with everything we are and have. Because all we are and have is because of Him. And if you really want to know the truth we can’t observe these other manifestations of love until we love God. And we won’t fully understand that until we come to terms with the fact that He loves us. He doesn't love us because He created us. He loves us is why He created us. And it’s why He is so patient with us. And it’s all the more reason why we should love Him.

And now I can get to the meaning behind all this. One of the ways we show God our love for Him is by doing what He says. And all of the manifestations of love listed above were commanded by Him. So when we allow ourselves to love like that we are saying to God, “I love you so much, that I’ll obey you. I love you so much that I’ll love the rest of your children too. And my love will be unconditional.”

Yes God loves you. He loves you even when you feel unlovable. So love Him. And love Him unconditionally.

Peace and blessings. Shannon