Mark 12:28-34 delivers a short but essential message in the New Covenant, a covenant ushered in by Jesus Christ. Jesus here says that the greatest commandment is to love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. Second, love your neighbor as you love yourself. And then he says, there is no commandment greater than these two. It is the second of these that I want to expound.
Between the family members of Christ, there is a depth of love that should exist. Our love should be redemptive. Galatians 6:1 says that we should restore each other from any trespass that may befall a brother or sister in Christ. We should also love sacrificially. The very next verse commands us to bear each others burdens. And as we pointed out above, last but certainly not least, we love unconditionally.
When asking the average person what sort of love they'd prefer to receive from others, either it be conditional or unconditional, they will probably choose the latter. However, odds are that they do not love all others in such a way. For them to prefer to receive unconditional love yet only giving conditional love is a violation of the Lord's commandment. However, suppose the person preferred to receive conditional love. What this means is that they understand that while they please their friends and family, they expect love. However, they should also understand that as soon as they displease someone who loves them, they will no longer receive love from that person. For this is a love based on works. Essentially, conditional love, according to scripture is not real love at all!
In Luke 6:32, Christ the Lord declared that even a sinner could love so long as they receive love; even a sinner can love conditionally. And in 1 John 4, a small but remarkable chapter in the Bible, we learn that God's love is the only love. We love solely because of what we've gained from His love; because of the revelation and presence of God If not for His love, we wouldn't know real love at all. And if real love is unconditional, than any sort of conditional love is fake.
Ultimately, to love a neighbor truly is only to love them as you love yourself. And if you choose to grant unmerited love, unconditional love, forgiving, longsuffering love, you are fulfilling the second greatest commandment of the greatest book compiled by the greatest being ever to live.
This blog needs a "Like" button that is synched with Facebook, like so many other sites have.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, nicely said man! I like it. Did you ever think of making a YouTube channel?
I would prefer to have unconditional love, and I am learning and hopefully doing well in giving it as well.
Just an idea: maybe you could tag your posts with the topic included (easier to look through stuff once you have more than one).
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ReplyDeleteLOL, gotcha, I'll do what I can.
ReplyDeleteThis article was beautiful, very inspiring and challenging. G you are blessed by Yaweh, and Jesus keeps molding your life in perfect ways. Keep it up brother!!!
ReplyDeletewow, this is so true. Praise God for this awesome post and the first one. It is good to be reminded of God's promise. I have known people to have crushed themselves with guilt and shame, while God has clearly set us free. Awesome! Post. :)
ReplyDeletedeep breda. it's true, no one wants just conditional love.
ReplyDeleteIt takes a certain type of strength to love unconditionally. It means excepting flaws and all of the ugly parts of humanity. A difficult prospect. However, if you want to truly love another person (or yourself), you have to accept this truth.
ReplyDeleteword to kelley. it is very hard to love unconditionally, because we so often do not receive it from the world we live in. thats why we have to always keep God close to our hearts, and remember that His love is unconditional. and in the end, it does not matter who contradicted you, and even hated you for your way, because it is not their opinion that matters.
ReplyDeleteI unfortunately cannot say that i have gotten to the point of only exerting unconditional love, but I think Im getting there.
I don't know if it'll ever happen,lol. But that's the point, we love even if we don't receive love. There should be no conditions. "Are you human? I'll love you. Love you the way God did when He died for you."
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