Love Is Impossible

S scripture: "Let us love one another, for love is from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7
O observation: Love is impossible. Unconditional, sacrificial love is impossible outside of God. The love we can manufacture from our own hearts, apart from God, cannot keep us from becoming angry or forgiving an offense. Yet God allows His love to be poured our through us. God's love for others is expressed through us because He has given us the Holy Spirit. When we love the scripture says we are born of God and that we know God because love is from God.

A application: How great it is that God expresses His love for others through me! God is allowing me to love this person that He himself loves deeply and letting me know Him deeper by allowing me to love His child. Oh, but I have forgotten that loving someone is a privilege and something to be valued above all else. I have fallen short, but I choose today to love, to value love as a privilege, and to know God deeper through my love for others.

P prayer: God, I have fallen short and I ask for Your forgiveness in my shortcomings. I am sorry I forgot love was a privilege and took it for granted. I ask that You would help me to submit to the Holy Spirit and allow me to demonstrate Your unconditional love for the ones You love. I want to love that it would be said I know You. In Your loving name, Amen.

Love Is Unconditional

S scripture: "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

O observation: Love is unconditional. Agape love is unconditional, based on the choice of the lover, and not the attributes of the one being loved. If God's love was based on our attributes then Christ wouldn't have died for our sins. We would never measure up. Yet, we know that Christ died for us, which means that God is loving and that He loves us unconditionally. We should have this same love for others. It isn't "I love you because...", but "I love you period."

A application: Conditional love is scary because if over time we can't measure up then the love is gone and our heart breaks. Unconditional love gives us the freedom to be vulnerable and to allow our relationships to grow deeper in the protection of unwavering commitment. I choose now to focus on loving the person instead of focusing on his attributes (both the good and the bad).

P prayer: God, The love in my heart for the one I love is unwavering, but when it was clear he wasn't going to return it anymore then I wanted it to end. I'm sorry for tainting unconditional love with that desire. Agape love doesn't end. I know You can understand: the Israelites tested Your love throughout the Bible and You never abandoned them. Yes, You turned Your back to punish them, but when they cried out You were still there. Help me to remember love is unconditional, love never ends. In Your loving name, Amen.