Tuesday 16 January 2018

Unconditional

Unconditional
The apostle John wrote,
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins “1 John 4:7-10.
C. S. Lewis notes,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”  C.S. Lewis.
As human beings we have the capacity to do many things. Among those things are love and hate.
If a person is truly a believer in Christ Jesus they will not have anything to do hate. They will love unconditionally.
The apostle Paul defines love as,
“Love is patient, love is kind. 
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 
it is not easily angered, 
it keeps no record of wrongs. 
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love.”  
                                                          1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
Love is the greatest asset a believer in Christ Jesus has. Martin Luther King jr. the great American civil rights leader at the height of the civil rights movement said two things about love,
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy 
into friend.”
                                    Martin Luther King, Jr.
He pointed out,
“Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” 
                                                                           Martin Luther King Jr.
Jesus knew this that’s why when asked,
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
      All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
Jesus also went as far to say,
“You have heard that it was said,
 ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: 
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” 
                                                                     Matthew 5:43,44
As believers in Christ Jesus we must love. We must love unconditionally.
Over and over again throughout the New Testament love is a recurring theme. 
If you claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ are you showing the unconditional love of Christ to those around you, even your enemies?
Please think about it.

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