Unconditional love is love with no limits. Webster's New Dictionary of the English Language says, unconditional means, not limited in any way. The greatest unconditional love that was shown to us was, the love that God had for us when He sent His only Son to die for our sins. There probably aren't too many people who has or ever will love like that. Loving with no conditions, can only come from the heart of God. God didn't love because He was loved. He loved first because He wasn't loved.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Love, with no conditions, doesn't think about the receiver. Unconditional love, loves in spite of. Human beings love and try very hard to love. But when we are hurt, disappointed or betrayed, love fades away. Because of the hurt and pain, we feel we have a right to stop loving. We've heard the saying, "I will always love you." Always mean forever, eternal, or until death do us part. At the very sign of trouble, our love is now limited.
It's funny how when we first meet someone and fall in love, it does feel like it will last forever. Time goes on and things change. We allow our circumstances to change our unconditional love to love with conditions. As God, loves us with no limits, we must love one another. Yes, that's hard to do with no help. Our human love is faulty. As long as we think we are happy with someone, we will love. When happiness is gone, love is out the door. Our love depends on someone making us happy. Do you see the problem with that?
When we receive Jesus into our lives, the Holy Spirit comes in and imparts the love of God into our hearts. We can only love with the love of God. Who else can we find that will show us how to love unconditionally? If we think of anyone, that person probably would tell you that it wasn't thier love, but the love of God in them. Overlooking someone's faults and continuing to love them, is hard. If we are the one in the wrong, we must repent and ask forgiveness quickly, so the love can continue to flow. We need forgiveness from the one we hurt and from God.
Unforgiveness is so bold in our relationships. Unforgiveness holds us back from loving unconditionally. We all make mistakes. God forgives us when we ask and His love never stops. Our family, friends and even strangers, need to know that they are loved unconditionally. No matter what they've done, they need love. God's love was for the whole world. Jesus died for the whole world. Now we must let the love of God, which is in our hearts, flow into the lives of others. Let's learn to love unconditionally, with no limits and see what a difference we make in the lives of others.