Unconditional Love

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, 

while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.   

Romans 5:8

We must know and understand that we cannot treat or view the love of God on the basis of human terms.  The love of God towards us is incomparable.  God tells us that His thoughts are not our thoughts nor are our ways His ways.

 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  Isaiah 55:8

Therefore, it is a futile attempt we make when we try to love and treat God according to our standards.  God's love is demonstrated to us through His continued faithfulness to us when He sent His only begotten son; His blameless son, to us to be offered as a final sacrifice for our sins.  

We know that we are living in perilous times. We know the condition of the world and we know the condition of the church (body of Christ) today.  In the world, these are perilous times, the moral fabric of our society is one thread away from becoming completely unraveled.  In the church there is a great falling away, we're almost spiritually catatonic, the love of God has waxed cold in the hearts of many.

Even as in the days of old, we are living in perverse times:

Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? . . .  Matthew 17:17

We see corruption even in the body of Christ; those who will speak of God for personal gain

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.  1 Timothy 6:3-5

We see the word of God being fulfilled:

And because iniquity shall abound , the love of many shall wax cold.  Matthew 24:12

Our children of today have a distorted view in that they feel they are entitled even when they know they are not deserving; don't care that they are not deserving.  That same spirit of entitlement has crept into the church – we feel like we've given our life to God (so we think) and because we are now joint heirs, God owes us everything our heart desires.  And when we don't get it, we have our pity parties and sometimes we walk away from God or turn our back on Him.  Is there any wonder why we are in such a perilous state?  This is what we need to understand, 

God is not attracted to our pity party or our tears in situations as this.  

What He is attracted to is our praise when what we want doesn't come 

when or how we perceive we want it.

In spite of this, one thing you should know that no matter what state you’re in; rather you are out of God’s will or in His will, He still loves you.  No, He does not like or approve; nor is He accepting of the sin you may be in but He loves you.  His word tells us that He sent His only begotten son:  

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.  John 3:16

Thank God that He is longsuffering,

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  2  Peter 3:9

The word tells us that God didn’t go through all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it is. He came to help, to put the world right again, to save us.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  John 3:17  

Ø   God doesn't desire that any of us should perish. 

That’s love!  God loves us so much that He will deal with us right where we are. But, it is a reciprocal relationship. He meets you where you are when you present yourself just as you are to Him!

It’s not too often that we don’t know what state we’re in in our relationship with God. We know when we have strayed from God either in our heart and/or in our actions. We know when we are disobedient to God’s will in regard to the purpose or path designed for our life. We get caught up in situations, our life is not flowing quite the way we think it should be flowing, we’re faced with negativity in nearly every aspect of our life and we begin to question or wonder about the love of God. We sometimes ponder within our self: 

Ø  God must not love me, or, if He does, why. . . 

      . . . without ever taking into consideration our actions let alone the condition of our heart. When what we really should be doing is looking inward at our life and the condition of our heart. What message is your actions sending God, what is your heart communicating to Him? These are questions we need to ask ourselves as we take an inward look at ourselves. 

God has already stated in his word: 

Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.  Joshua 1:7

That is the fundamental key:  if you love God, you will keep His word.

If ye love me, keep my commandments.  John 14:15

We are aware of the times, aware of the perilous times in which we exist. But we know that we serve a God that is omnipotent and that when we open our hearts to Him and obey his will, His glory will be manifest.

We need to heed the times in which we live; not only world events but in our personal lives. When we set our heart against God, we are in a perilous state. 

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.  Romans 1:24-25

Love is an affair of the heart and if we want an open flow of God’s love, we have to correct the unhealthy state of our heart.

So then, lets consider Jonah and the city of Nineveh – they had something in common.  Jonah, a prophet, a messenger of God during the reign of King Jeroboam, was sent on a mission to deliver a message to the City of Nineveh.  But Jonah went directly against God’s will. What made Jonah do this?

Jonah was in his “righteous indignation”.  Jonah knew God to be a good, gracious and merciful God. And because he allowed his flesh to minister to him, he did not want the City of Nineveh spared because of all the atrocities they committed against Israel. He forgot that “it wasn't about him”. 

God has a plan for our life that in spite of whatever blessings or favor or perks you get out of it, that plan is designed to reveal the glory of God! Every good and bad thing you go through is intended for the glory of God.

But Jonah forgot this and he set in his heart to go against God’s will and got on a ship going to an entirely different city.   God sent a storm and the seamen were forced to throw Jonah overboard where a great fish, swallowed him. He stayed in the belly of this fish for 3 days. Can you imagine being stuck in a cold, dark place like that; all alone, no way of escape; a seemingly impossible situation. Couldn’t call on anyone to help him. But our good and loving God knew exactly what He was doing when He allowed the fish to swallow him. He prepared the fish!  Jonah was now in a position where He could do nothing but consider his situation. And he did just that – he looked inward and then he looked up! He considered his heart based on what he said to God as he prayed to Him. He acknowledged to God where he was, what led him there and then he re-committed himself to God:

When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.   They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.  But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.  Jonah 2:7-9

At that point God freed him from the fish and he completed the will of God.

Let's stop to consider this.  Jonah willfully disobeyed God.  God could have slain Jonah right in his tracks - instantly -  but He didn't.  Despite Jonah's insolence, God  afforded him time to not only consider his ways but also to complete the mission he was given.

Jonah lets the city of Nineveh know that God’s judgment was upon them and that they would be destroyed in 40 days. Again, God, in His goodness, grace and mercy gave the city of Nineveh the opportunity to consider or ‘heed’ their ways.   The king took off his royal garments, dressed in sackcloth, sat in ashes and proclaimed a fasting of no eating or drinking throughout the land that even included the animals and everyone was to dress in sackcloth. The vital part of this was that they were all to pray.

. . .and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent , and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?  Jonah 3:8-9 

God’s judgment was stayed and His mercy was extended.  In both these instances, when the condition of our heart is considered and prayer is applied, we open the portal for God’s love to be demonstrated in our lives both individually and collectively. 

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.  Ephesians 5:2 

If we want to see the love of God demonstrated in our lives and in the lives of others, we must also demonstrate the love of God in our actions and in our thoughts. 

The very best example of love in action that has ever lived is Jesus himself. 

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.   Romans 5:8

Look for love in His every action. Look for love in His every word. Love is there to be found in all that Jesus did and said. In Jesus, we find a kind and compassionate love. A love that cares and meets needs. A love that nurtures, cherishes and forgives. A love that is patient and humble.

If we want to see and feel the love of God in our lives and extend it to others in a personal way, follow the example that Jesus gave us.

(Biblical Studies)

08/15/13
09/30/14
01/12/16

02/16/19

11/24/20

09/28/22