Wednesday, March 3, 2010

March 3, 2010

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8



In a world of deadlines, limitations, and expiration dates, it is hard to grasp the limitless nature of God. We aren't familiar with things that don't end. Our finite world struggles to come to grips with the infinite love of God. He is a God Who doesn't fall in and out of love depending on His mood or the present circumstances. Loving is not just something He DOES, it is WHO HE IS! His love has no limits because He is love and He has no limits.



Our text today is one of many verses that refer to the "agape" or unconditional love of God. It is love that was lived out in the Person and life of Jesus. He is the best picture we have of what unconditional love looks like.



Unconditional love demonstrates. It expresses itself in loving, selfless actions. Jesus coming to earth from the glory of Heaven was a demonstration of God's love but it was also a selfless act of love by Jesus. He proved God's love by coming according to God's plan. That required Him to surrender His rights and privileges as the Son of God to become the Son of Man. If the measure of love is shown in the extravagance of a gift, Jesus demonstrated ultimate love by His coming.




Unconditional love dies. Not only did God prove His love by sending His Son from Heaven to earth, but Jesus also died to atone for the sins of the world. The One man Who never sinned had to become the sacrifice for sin. He paid for sins that were not His own. He suffered the ultimate injustice to provide justice for us. Why would He do that? LOVE! Love with no limits.



This verse does not day that "God so loved us if......." It does not say that "God so loved us when...." It just says that He loved us and showed it by coming and by dying. You could say that He is dead serious about loving us.



The word used in this God-type of love is the same love standard required of spouses for each other. Finite creates that we are must love one another with an infinite unconditional love. Your love for each other is not an "if" love, or a "when" love, or a "because" love. It is a committed love that is demonstrated by selfless living and by dying to self. It has little to do with emotion and everything to do with action.


How do you love like that? You don't! You "submit" to His love and "line up" with His love so He can love your spouse through you.


Believe in His unconditional love. Receive His unconditional love. Demonstrate that love today by doing and by being what your spouse needs you to do and be in order to feel loved. Let God's love flow through you without conditions, without limits and without fail. Love them as He loves you. It is a forever love - but it begins now!