iShineInMinistry

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear… 

This week during the ladies’ bible study that I attend, we talked about how God was willing to be vulnerable and come into the world humble and as a baby to save the world. We discussed His amazing love and what His love should reveal to us and provoke us to as followers of Jesus. I remember thinking in response to Christ’s love, we should love fully, freely, fearlessly, unconditionally and sincerely. God sent Jesus to save the world that He loved and He knew the following things even as His love compelled Him do to this:

1) Some would reject His love and say they did not want Him

2) Some would be completely flighty in their love and it would be conditional based on their present circumstance

3) We all would mess us up often, which would not reflect the same kind of perfect love He showed to us

I know that I get so upset and frustrated when I show someone love and they decide they want nothing to do with me. I wonder if I would still do kind actions even if I knew the outcome would be rejection, rather than appreciation or thankfulness. Sometimes, people do not show their love in a way that makes me feel like they truly love me. I know that my love language is ‘acts of service’. I think about the times people have shown me love through ‘words of encouragement’ and wonder if I was annoyed that their love was not shown in a way that I prefer…

When people wrong us, break promises, lie or do horrific things over and over again, do we still show that same love? This is the kind of love Jesus shows us…ALL THE TIME! When I get annoyed because I do not have a job yet, I am not showing Him love. When I decide I would rather online shop than read His word and I am flighty, He still loves me. When I say something snotty (again), He is still there with kind, loving arms, ready to redirect me to the place that I need to be spiritually. He never decides that He is just done with me because I am not worth it. His perfect love is not only based on if I am “being cooperative” or a “good girl”, He always loves, even when I do not show that love in a selfless way that does not have ulterior motives. I wonder how many times our unloving actions have trampled on the cross of Jesus’ perfect love. I wonder if we realize how incredibly perfect God’s love truly is; He takes us back every single time. I hope that our hearts will choose to love as fully as our Lord’s, even if it means being vulnerable, rejected or ignored sometimes.

Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

I want to challenge all of us this week to try and love totally unconditionally, even if the love is rejected, we are treated unkindly or if someone continues to make the same mistake over and over again. Record how it makes you feel, then pray to the Lord for a heart that loves Him fully, completely and with total devotion.