“Unconditional Love”
If you want to love the
way Jesus loved, if you want your life to be characterized by love in a way
that reflects the heart of God to everyone you meet, then pay attention to how
you respond to people who make you uncomfortable. You know… the ones who are different
from you in significant ways, the ones you don’t like, don’t understand, and
don’t enjoy. The people who hold different beliefs, practice different
lifestyles and hold distinctly different priorities from your own.
As painful as
relationships can sometimes be, we are relational beings, created in God’s
image to belong, to serve, to worship and to live in community. We’re called to
be his hands and feet and God often touches our life through those around us;
relationships are the lifeblood of the Church.
While there are many
different dimensions to Christian love, I believe the ability to love
unconditionally is the one that most characterizes the spacious, abundant life
we have in Christ. I suspect this willingness to love others unconditionally
and its regular practice are significantly missing from many believers’ lives.
We say we want to love others just as God loves us, but too often we end up
choosing comfort and convenience over compassion.
Because of his
unconditional love for all people, we often find God in the midst of places and
situations where we least expect him - on the street corners and in alleyways,
in hospitals and prisons, orphanages and courtrooms.
The love required to
love those who are different from us will always be supernatural. I can’t do
this in my own strength but with the Holy Spirit living inside me I can do
it.
What frames the tone of
your life? How often do you stretch beyond your comfort zone to reach out to
people with whom you disagree? The ability to enjoy a big, spacious,
open-hearted life is directly proportional to your ability to love everyone,
especially those who are different from you. Remember - everywhere you find
people, you will also find God. Be challenged today to live outside of
yourself. Stop and give time to people you may not normally associate with, be
aware of your surroundings and of people who may need the love of Christ
lavished on them today – through you. Be willing to be a vessel used by God,
not just toward people whom you love and agree with, but to people whom you may
find difficult or disagree with. Ask God to give you wisdom and strength to be
Christ-like to each and every person you encounter.
Unconditional love - the
ability to love people who hold different beliefs, practice different
lifestyles and hold distinctly different priorities from your own.
I must willing to be a
vessel to be used by God, not just toward people whom I love and agree with,
but to people whom I may find difficult or disagree with. We have to reach out
to those around us, who God puts in our space, to show His Love to be that
light on the hill that can’t be hidden. Shining brightly for all to see.
Be Blessed and be a Blessing
From the devotional: Live – Love – Lead
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