Life IS...Isampula

Life IS... Learning to Love Unconditionally

Unconditional Love - also known as Agape Love - is a hard thing to do, even as a Christian. But it is possible.  

God knew we would struggle with this type of love.  I believe that's why the question is asked in I John 4:20, when he says, "How can you say you love me, yet hate your brother whom you see daily."  It starts with a choice and then requires a willingness to die daily to yourself and your personal feelings about another person regardless of the color of their skin or their actions.

One morning while on a prayer call, I was asked to pray for a particular person.  My immediate response shocked everyone on the call, but my action was even more shocking.  I replied, "wow, that's a tall order and I can't do it."  

The same person who said in yesterday's devotion that, "praying was part of my DNA," (ME) was saying no to praying for someone! 

I began to think about all the pain and suffering this person's actions caused the people I cared about. I had prayed for them several times and it seemed as if their actions were getting worse.  

The call ended that day without me praying for that person.

From that day forward, my prayer partners have not let me forget that moment. More importantly, something inside of me reminded me that my love for that person was conditional. My personal feelings and perspective kept me from obeying God's call to pray for them. Unconditional love requires you to grow to a place where you can truly love a person despite the challenges which make it hard to love them.

As I began to search myself, I thought about things I had done, which were not so loving.  What if somebody decided to stop loving me based on the things I did or did not do?  What if God took his unconditional love away from me because my actions were not pleasing to him?  After weeks of agonizing over what I had done, I asked God for forgiveness and I finally apologized to my prayer partners for refusing to pray.  I shared with them the guilt I had been feeling.  This time before we ended our prayer call, I prayed for the person whom I had refused to pray for previously.  This experience taught me that I must conscientiously choose to love unconditionally every day.

Jesus showed us His love that while we were still sinning He died for us. (Rom. 5:8) He gave the unconditional love He calls us to extend through others. But not just in our strength. The power of the Holy Spirit can transform our hearts and help us love the way Christ loves. 

As we look at all the unrest, chaos, and attacks on humankind, the world is in desperate need of more unconditional love.  Today, try to practice loving someone the way God loves you, unconditionally.  If we do this, I believe the world will be a better place.

Reflection:

Take a moment to examine your life today. Are you exemplifying unconditional love to all humankind? 

If the answer is no, are you willing to try and do something different?

If the answer is yes, what role can you play to help others learn to love unconditionally?

Prayer:

Father, today I am asking you to cleanse me. I give you permission to take out those things in me that would prevent me from experiencing or even knowing how to truly love. In Jesus' name, Amen.