Today the passage was about unconditional love. With each example in the devo, I found myself thinking - “ya, but...!”
Unconditional love is something we all want. I hope others will show that to me and I, well, for sure I offer it to everyone else. For sure. Well, I have a couple of exceptions.
If somebody really hurt me it’s probably unreasonable of me to try to repair the relationship. Then I read Matthew 5:44 where Jesus says to love my enemies. Ok.
What if someone takes advantage of my kindness and I end up giving way more than I wanted? Then Matthew 5:40 came up. “If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.”
How far do I have to go with this forgiveness deal? The world spat on Jesus and nailed him to the cross. He said “Father, forgive them”. I'm very far from being in that situation and my forgiveness is just as far off.
I’ve thought I should always TRY to be reconciled but Matthew 5:24 says, BE reconciled. "Trying" isn't enough.
All this time unconditional love is something I've expected from others and assumed I was good at doing it but when these examples came up I realized my forgiveness IS conditional. And God doesn’t want my offerings or praise until I’m willing to forgive and show unconditional love.
So - no excuses. Just start loving people - unconditionally.
Man, this is harder than I thought.
focus is needed
ReplyDelete