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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Sunday, February 1, 2004 Unconditional Love |
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Frontline Devotion for
Sunday, February 1, 2004, by Catherine Singelsether
Bible texts:
Psalms 57:10
and
1 John 4:18-19
I was reflecting the other day and noticed how people only like, or love you
conditionally. People have requirements for relationships. They only like you if
you provide something for them, it seems. It is a surface-level
affection or acceptance. But, God’s love is a deeper, more unbiased
love and encompasses all levels of emotion. God has no conditions for loving us. It’s unconditional favor. Unconditional, unceasing, unbroken devotion. Yes God
died for us. And in that aspect we can be awed by God’s love. But in our broken
sense of things, we can’t perceive the full glory of God’s love. If any of us
really got a revelation of it, I am sure it would humble us.
Unconditional love. What is it and how do I return that same sort of affection
towards God? I can only try. Unconditional love in God’s
terms has no limits or rules. The doors are wide open with God’s love. It
encompasses all things and is able to provide for us in limitless ways. It fills and
provokes and stirs things into action. This is the love that saves broken
hearts and brings hardened sinners like the apostle Paul toward his bosom.
One of the things I like is that I find God’s love sets me free. Not just as an
imperfect sinner, but in more ways. When I find the world says No or tries to set
limits on me, God says "Yes." He says "Yes" to whatever I want and all
that I deserve in my life and draws me safe to his bosom. God’s love is so big
and wonderful and perfect and I know that I am more than grateful for it as a
foundation in my life. Thank you Jesus.
Prayer for the Day: Dearest Lord, thank you so much for You. Thank
you for the perfect way you are able to carry us and the many ways you fill our
lives. Lord thank you for loving us and supporting us in every way. May we
be able to carry your love to others so that we can be a better witness.
Amen.
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