For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
From a distance HE watches, hurting yet still awaiting an opportunity to help.
HE's enthralled with the beauty of what HIS eyes behold, but the shell of separation created by disagreeing lifestyles has kept HIM from being able to embrace HIS beloved.
HE does what HE can to get HIS beloved's attention, sending various notes of love and intervening in dangerous situations to protect, even when not asked to, but alas, that same shell of separation blinds HIS beloved from seeing HIM for WHO HE really is, and causes the object of HIS affection, knowing of HIM but never knowing HIM, to act as if HE doesn't even exist.
Sounds like a pretty sad love story, doesn't it? Actually, this depicts GOD and HIS creation. HE's always looking for an opportunity, in spite of our lack of love towards HIM, to bless us and care for us and show us HIS love for us, but sin is that shell that keeps us separated from experiencing HIS love in it's grandest magnitude.
Humanistically, we find it difficult to love those that don't love us, even more so being in love with someone who's not in love with us. But as it is with everything else, we can look towards GOD for the example we need to press through and prosper. Look at what GOD did for us at a time when we weren't ready to love HIM or receive love from HIM.
HE extended HIMself. This scripture could very well read, 'For GOD was so in love with the world...'. How awesome is that? Not only did GOD love us, but GOD was in love with us before we even said, 'Yes, LORD'. Loving GOD back is not even a prerequisite for getting saved, although it is a key factor in one's staying saved.
Just think: abundant life, Heaven, the opportunity to commune with in prayer and get answers and so much more, all afforded to individuals who haven't learned to love GOD or be in love with HIM. The amazing patience of GOD because of HIS love for us!
If you're an individual in a relationship with a relative or a marriage, even down to co-workers and flat out enemies, there is help in GOD when it comes to learning how to love individuals who can't or don't or won't love us in return. It's important that in situations like these that we never change the way we love.
GOD never took away HIS offer, even with all that HE's done for us and all that we haven't done for HIM. HE's still offering, even right now. HIS is an awesome ensample for us when we doubt our ability to love in situations where it's not being reciprocated.
Learning to love unconditionally often comes at a cost of our discomfort. The WORD of GOD is clear, however, that the reward comes not in doing to those who do to us only, but in the more challenging area of doing to those who don't do(Matt.5:46-48). Unconditional love is one of the character traits of CHRIST that gives us the distinction of being CHRISTians; loving the easy to love people is, for what it's worth, simply a common act.
If there's nothing else that we can glean from doctrines and theologies taken from and found within the WORD of GOD, we know for a surety that GOD shows us how to love.
GOD bless...
KD
From a distance HE watches, hurting yet still awaiting an opportunity to help.
HE's enthralled with the beauty of what HIS eyes behold, but the shell of separation created by disagreeing lifestyles has kept HIM from being able to embrace HIS beloved.
HE does what HE can to get HIS beloved's attention, sending various notes of love and intervening in dangerous situations to protect, even when not asked to, but alas, that same shell of separation blinds HIS beloved from seeing HIM for WHO HE really is, and causes the object of HIS affection, knowing of HIM but never knowing HIM, to act as if HE doesn't even exist.
Sounds like a pretty sad love story, doesn't it? Actually, this depicts GOD and HIS creation. HE's always looking for an opportunity, in spite of our lack of love towards HIM, to bless us and care for us and show us HIS love for us, but sin is that shell that keeps us separated from experiencing HIS love in it's grandest magnitude.
Humanistically, we find it difficult to love those that don't love us, even more so being in love with someone who's not in love with us. But as it is with everything else, we can look towards GOD for the example we need to press through and prosper. Look at what GOD did for us at a time when we weren't ready to love HIM or receive love from HIM.
HE extended HIMself. This scripture could very well read, 'For GOD was so in love with the world...'. How awesome is that? Not only did GOD love us, but GOD was in love with us before we even said, 'Yes, LORD'. Loving GOD back is not even a prerequisite for getting saved, although it is a key factor in one's staying saved.
Just think: abundant life, Heaven, the opportunity to commune with in prayer and get answers and so much more, all afforded to individuals who haven't learned to love GOD or be in love with HIM. The amazing patience of GOD because of HIS love for us!
If you're an individual in a relationship with a relative or a marriage, even down to co-workers and flat out enemies, there is help in GOD when it comes to learning how to love individuals who can't or don't or won't love us in return. It's important that in situations like these that we never change the way we love.
GOD never took away HIS offer, even with all that HE's done for us and all that we haven't done for HIM. HE's still offering, even right now. HIS is an awesome ensample for us when we doubt our ability to love in situations where it's not being reciprocated.
Learning to love unconditionally often comes at a cost of our discomfort. The WORD of GOD is clear, however, that the reward comes not in doing to those who do to us only, but in the more challenging area of doing to those who don't do(Matt.5:46-48). Unconditional love is one of the character traits of CHRIST that gives us the distinction of being CHRISTians; loving the easy to love people is, for what it's worth, simply a common act.
If there's nothing else that we can glean from doctrines and theologies taken from and found within the WORD of GOD, we know for a surety that GOD shows us how to love.
GOD bless...
KD
Comments