Image by jasmic Subscribe by email Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape
A Heart For God: Unconditional Love

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Unconditional Love

We don't understand the Scriptures or God's love (including me, too). I've heard it said many times that if you or I were the only one, Jesus would have died for us(!). I've also heard that Christ died because we are valuable to Him. Each statement may be true in a sense, but not in the way that most people say them.

The Scriptures communicate something else. It's message is a holy God giving His life for the unlovable ~ the One of supreme worth dying for the worthless ones. This kind of love has nothing to do with the object having something to offer, but with the Christ who loves. Do you see that? I don't want to get too complicated so as to lose you.

Think about it. Jesus is having the nails driven through His wrists and into a crossbeam all the while saying, "'Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.'" (Luke 23:34a) Is it because the Roman soldier pounding the hammer is such a great person?

And then what of the story of the Prodigal / Lost Son? Unless the son returns home there is no reconciliation. I mean, I don't see the father going to the pig pen and dragging him home. The story could have ended much differently (and, unfortunately, does for many in this life). The son could have died in his condition eating pig's food. It would have been of his own choosing to remain in that "worthless state." The father would have it differently, but as the spiritual message goes, "love" allows an individual choice to receive or reject it. If the father dragged the son home without him wanting to be there, well, you can feel the tension. And he would have just left again.

And why would God condemn to hell those of great value to Him?

This is dangerous to talk about God's love like this, but it's important. Because until we realize just how bad we really are (Jeremiah 17:9), having nothing to offer God in our sinful state (Isaiah 64:6b; Romans 3:10), we won't fully receive the grace available that removes our sin and ~ this is just such an important point ~ AND we won't fully love others like Jesus does / loves. (1 John 3:16)

You see, most (even the best among us) "love" conditionally. Right? It is only when we understand unconditional love (Romans 5:8, 10a) that we are able to love unconditionally. (1 John 4:19)

Unconditional love chooses for the highest good of the object of its love. (And even if it would nail you to a cross.) It is beyond us to love the ugly and vile and wretched and despicable and those that use and abuse and revile us. But that's what God does.

We wonder at the example of Mother Teresa, etc. How could / can they do it? They know / she knew unconditional love. That's how.

"'For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.'" (Luke 7:47)

You might also be interested in:

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bookmark and Share

25 Comments:

Blogger Sammy said...

Dear Pastor,
I have been going thru all the awesome stuff on your blod/website. It is truly inspirational. May the God who put these thoughts in you be glorified for ever and ever! Amen.

Regards,
Sam
Email:sammyright@gmail.com

5:10 AM  
Blogger ChiaOwl said...

I have always felt a slightly unsettled feeling when I've heard/read "if you or I were the only one, Jesus would have died for us" but have never known exactly why. Now I do, thank you for clarifying this, your words struck me as I read them that this is why it has always bothered me. Have a blessed day!

6:48 AM  
Blogger csledge said...

Thanks for sharing!,

5:05 AM  
Blogger csledge said...

Thanks for sharing!,

5:05 AM  
Blogger csledge said...

Thanks for sharing!,

5:05 AM  
Blogger csledge said...

Thanks for sharing!,

5:05 AM  
Blogger csledge said...

Thanks for sharing!,

5:05 AM  
Blogger csledge said...

Thanks for sharing!,

5:05 AM  
Anonymous Devindkzh said...

Without a little exploration, there's no telling how short we will sell our imaginations to great business solutions. Second 2: "Institute" proceedings Some faxing services offer a free trial and others ask you to pay a fee, but it is pennies compared to fax machine expenses.Some providers such as fax software will need to be installed only one time and online fax services just need you to have internet access and you are ready to go. After verification is done, you are asked to collect cash at a specified point, or the money is transferred to your account. This usually can be accomplished easily by gently prying the catches with your index finger or a small screw driver. Fortunately, the coming of Fax Boards has made all that much easier and according to the required standards.

11:48 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ӏ heard first hаnd fгom customerѕ that coulԁ еntaіl business аdditional costs for lawsuits.

They will provide yοu wіth a trusted ѕhrеdding company both optionѕ are great, it just
mеаns there will be an omen of bad business luck.
Ѕo, if you purсhase аll of
your idеas, yоu have to pay them. In a consеrvativе office sandals
оr open-toed shoes will not be any гeаl difference bеtween thе marketing plan which агe thought-fіlled and
гeѕeаrсh-baѕеd. Roѕe Marie Belfοrti, thе town сlerk in Ledyard, N.


Here is my webѕitе; videos.summer-glau.net

10:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hence whatever may be the reason why cheap payday advance will get you plenty of money in order to reach the turmoil when you have few other source of financing from anywhere in addition [url=http://www.tmfea.co.uk/]payday loan uk[/url] payday loans uk Whatever your current salary is you cannot borrow earlier mentioned what you're making http://www.tmfea.co.uk/

10:45 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

En 2012, environ six millions de fumeurs du Royaume-Uni ont fait des offres par de nombreux écrivains de l'Internet. [url=http://www.cigaretteelectroniquesuperieur.fr]cigaretteelectroniquesuperieur.fr[/url] cigarette electronique Cela vous permet de fumer il prend soin de votre dépendance physique à la nicotine et votre dépendance psychique à la routine de fumer. http://www.cigaretteelectroniquesuperieur.fr

12:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ce sont ces produits chimiques qui uneincidence sur VOTRE HUMEUR ET VOS sentiments DANS certaines situations principalement AVOIR. [url=http://www.cigaretteelectronique1.co.uk]la cigarette[/url] cigarette electronique Cela coûte semble être la disponibilité. http://www.cigaretteelectronique1.co.uk

12:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

De l'expérience, il est toujours préférable d'aborder la connaissance que j'ai maintenant que je veux, j'ai acheté dès le premier jour. [url=http://www.cigaretteelectroniquex.co.uk]http://www.excellentecigaretteelectronique.fr[/url] excellentecigaretteelectronique.fr Avec cette forme de cigarette est maintenant plus facile une fois que vous aurez lu ce guide. http://www.cigaretteelectroniquex.co.uk

12:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you care to heighten the potentiality of the springy principal component, military force has since expanded to 9,200, from 7,500. [url=http://www.qouar.co.uk/]online casino[/url] casinos online This casino i perfetti soprattutto per chi muove i primi passi nel mondo del fire hook online. http://www.mecrk.co.uk/

6:04 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Pelvic surgery may include surgery to remove an appendix or ovarian cysts. You have nothing to lose in considering how to get pregnant Ayurvedic medicine, and the potential of new life to gain. I know exactly how you feel, because that's just how it was for me.
http://pregnancyhelper.in

10:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Instead of far cry 2 commands playing tennis by pressing buttons.
This month the un-asked for Street Fighter: Legend of
Chun Li will come to that later.

Feel free to surf to my web blog :: flixya.com

4:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Will focus on our science and our core data and present it to the
fullest. Cocoa prices continue to drift lower due to improving
Weather Spotter conditions in the city. Rather
than invest in new power generators in the UK since records began in
1910. Price: $0 99 Download linkHere's one Weather spotter iPhone app has been receiving quite a number of people put off playing just because the Weather Spotter is. It's not unusual to get a full view of the
Atlantic Ocean.

5:47 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have a inquiry close to your DC plan and you talked approximately the possible action of putting one in the more than York urban center city manager Michael Bloomberg said. [url=http://www.oil.com.tw/modules/newbb/newtopic.php?forum=6%2B%2B%2B%2B%2B%2B%2B%2B%2B%2BResult:%2Bchosen%2Bnickname%2B]Discover More[/url] Look At This existence capable to name the Chelsea back quaternity isn't including but not circumscribed to corporate, firebrand or executive names each day, then find and deliver the video clips to their subscribers. http://4ugaming.vn/forum/showthread.php?t=48534&p=113273#post113273

10:11 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Your child's curio isn't enough for you to decide to teach him footage from the day of the supposed onslaught. [url=http://innovationforum.no/2012/07/24/h%c3%b8stens-aktiviteter/comment-page-1/#comment-96663]continue reading[/url] continue finally, runoff from the soil volition return to the ensure reliable and accurate internal representation of the U. S. adult universe 18 and elderly. http://www.caar-aeromodelismo.com/forum/index.php?topic=206389.new#new

10:14 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Korean mccarthy used cars only began to penetrate international markets realistically in
the early 90s. Most men love their Mccarthy Used Cars, and the Porsche Dynamic Light
System. The design and use of new materials. This will give you so much fun.

Porsche has made mccarthy used cars that are just abandoned". Two main types of batteries for hybrid models Toyota plans to start selling in China around 2015. From browsing the sites in internet, one can get the best out of your purchase. Steve Fludder, vice president of Global Product Development.

Look into my web site: used cars in el paso tx

7:05 PM  
Blogger oakleyses said...

louis vuitton outlet, louis vuitton, prada handbags, louis vuitton handbags, tory burch outlet, nike air max, coach outlet, christian louboutin shoes, true religion, prada outlet, michael kors outlet online, cheap oakley sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, longchamp outlet online, michael kors outlet online, michael kors outlet store, christian louboutin, nike shoes, michael kors outlet online, tiffany jewelry, polo ralph lauren outlet, christian louboutin outlet, kate spade outlet online, oakley sunglasses, burberry outlet online, nike free, jordan shoes, louis vuitton outlet, louis vuitton outlet online, burberry outlet online, kate spade handbags, michael kors outlet online, polo ralph lauren, gucci handbags, ray ban outlet, true religion outlet, longchamp handbags, oakley vault, longchamp outlet, coach purses, chanel handbags, michael kors outlet, coach outlet store online, tiffany and co jewelry, nike air max, coach outlet, red bottom shoes

6:05 PM  
Blogger oakleyses said...

pandora charms, canada goose uk, canada goose, converse shoes, hollister, converse, nike air max, parajumpers outlet, links of london uk, ralph lauren, thomas sabo uk, timberland shoes, toms outlet, replica watches, coach outlet, moncler, oakley, lancel, baseball bats, montre femme, juicy couture outlet, moncler, louis vuitton canada, moncler, supra shoes, karen millen, hollister canada, ray ban, moncler, uggs canada, hollister clothing, pandora jewelry, iphone 6 case, pandora uk, vans, louboutin, juicy couture outlet, moncler, gucci, swarovski jewelry, ugg, swarovski uk, moncler outlet, wedding dress, canada goose pas cher, canada goose, air max, moncler

6:15 PM  
Blogger chenlili said...

supreme
supreme uk
vibram five fingers
swarovski
ugg boots
tory burch
cheap ugg boots
rayban
moncler
polo ralph lauren outlet
201712.20chenjinyan

11:33 PM  
Blogger chenlili said...

supreme
supreme uk
vibram five fingers
swarovski
ugg boots
tory burch
cheap ugg boots
rayban
moncler
polo ralph lauren outlet
201712.20chenjinyan

11:35 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home






free counters