Unconditional Love

True Love is Unconditional:   We are called to live like Christ... to be conformed to His image.  Would we feel loved if He loved us the way we love others?  In most cases, I dare say, probably not.  Paul's word for love is Agape which describes a love that is based on the deliberate choice of the one who loves rather than the worthiness of the one who is loved... Agape love is giving, selfless, long-suffering (patient), and expects nothing in return.

This is the kind of love we should have... not only for other Christians in the church or for our neighbors but for those closest to us... our spouse and children.

I've always loved the "love chapter".  In fact, I have it in a frame in my home nestled amongst pictures of my family but I am far from the image that is pictured in Paul's writing.  Let me explain it the way a dear friend explained it to me once:

Love suffers long and is kind... kind no matter what - you know what Jesus said, "love your enemies"... so, Agape love is for everyone and if your love is not returned, you keep loving anyway.

Love does not envy, parade itself, and is not puffed up... envy can also be described as "jealous".  If I truly love my neighbor, I wouldn't be jealous of the new baby that God has blessed her with when I've been praying for years or I wouldn't be jealous of the honor bestowed on a co-worker when I feel I've worked twice as hard.  No, true love means you're happy for the achievements of others and you don't take pride in your own.

Love does not behave rudely and does not seek its own... when we are out with our husband and friends, do we put him down?  Do we tease to the point of making him look bad in their eyes?  When we are having a conversation, do we listen to the other person's thoughts or are we too busy thinking of what we are going to say or interrupting them when they are talking?  In my mind, this would read, one who truly loves, listens and doesn't force their own opinions on others.  

This almost brings into play the word some women dispise... submission.  Did you know, that submission does not mean being a dormat?  It doesn't mean that you are a slave?  If you look up the word submission in the dictionary, it means that you willingly give in to the authority of another.  In other words, you share your ideas and opinions but you willingly choose to go with the other person's way of doing something.

Sorry for the side-step there... back to the Love Chapter...

Love is not provoked, thinks no evil... ok, this is the one that my friend truly explained differently than I had ever heard before.  When we approach a situation, we should be expecting the best rather than thinking the worst.  Even if a situation comes up that has always received a negative response in the past, we should approach it expecting a positive response I guess this falls in line of not keeping a record of wrong which is the way that it is worded in some translations.  Forget what happened 10 years ago, 5 months ago, 2 hours ago, or even a few minutes before and look forward to each moment with a fresh outlook expecting a positive response.  However, remember... long-suffering.  So, if that positive response doesn't come, how do we respond?... that's right, we pile on more love.

Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth... we don't find happiness in revenge, we don't lie but constantly seek the truth in every situation.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.  Do you see the word blindfold in any of those sentences?  No, we love doesn't mean we are naive or ignorant of what is going on around us, it says that we recognize the problems and failures but we don't lose faith in the possibilities of what people might become.  We don't give up.  God can change this person for the better just as He has changed us.  We accept the hardships and rejection, continuing to build up and encourage... always expecting the best from and for the other person.

Agape... are you showing it today?  Even if you don't feel it in return, it is our responsibility to show this kind of love to everyone, including our spouse.