Today’s topic is on love and how it should be unconditional and forever. Let’s be the dads who love God, our wives, kids, and world unconditionally, that’s right without expectations and no matter what. Let’s also bear in mind to persist without cessation; as long as we have breath in our lungs, the opportunity to love God and others forever remains open to us. Are you ready to embark on this journey, persisting in doing good without growing weary, and allowing the love of God to overflow into the world around you unconditionally and forever?
Unconditional and Forever starts with God:
The foundation of unconditional and eternal love lies in our relationship with God. In 1 John 4:7-8, the Bible states,
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God because God is love."
This scripture underscores that our ability to love others unconditionally stems from our connection with the Divine source of love. The application of this truth in our lives involves seeking a deep and intimate relationship with God through prayer, meditation on His Word, and a genuine commitment to aligning our hearts with His love. Experiencing God’s unconditional and forever love empowers us to actively extend the same love to those around us.
Unconditional and Forever in our Marriages:
Marriage exemplifies the human experience of unconditional and enduring love. Ephesians 5:25 emphasizes,
"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."
This biblical principle teaches us that marital love should reflect the sacrificial and enduring love that Christ demonstrated for the Church. Practically applying this in our daily lives means prioritizing our spouse’s needs, offering forgiveness, and persevering through challenges. By consistently expressing love to our spouses without expecting anything in return, we mirror God’s unconditional love, fostering a strong and lasting marital bond.
Unconditional and Forever in our Families:
Parental love is another arena where unconditional and eternal love should be evident. Proverbs 22:6 advises,
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it."
This scripture highlights the responsibility of parents to love and guide their children unconditionally, providing a foundation for their growth and development. The practical application involves investing time, patience, and wisdom in nurturing our children’s well-being. Through consistent love and guidance, parents can instill values and principles that will endure throughout their children’s lives, creating a legacy of unconditional love.
Love Unconditional and Forever is Required:
In conclusion, the call to love unconditionally and forever is a divine mandate that finds its roots in our relationship with God, permeates our marriages, and extends to our roles as parents. As we draw inspiration from biblical teachings, we understand that our capacity to love without expectations is a reflection of God’s nature. The application of these principles in our daily lives involves cultivating a deep connection with God, sacrificially loving our spouses, and diligently guiding our children. By embodying unconditional and eternal love in these areas, we fulfill the biblical mandate to love as Christ loved us, creating a ripple effect that positively impacts the world around us.
This year, I am utilizing the 365 Daily Devotions book I received for Christmas, applying its teachings specifically in the context of fatherhood. It’s called WALKING WITH GOD by DAVID JEREMIAH. It’s exciting to get to learn from a new resource this year as we have tried different options the past two years and will keep working through this one for 2024. For more information about the author and his ministry, visit: DavidJeremiah.org.
Topic: THE PERMANENCE OF GOD’S LOVE
Verse:
Romans 8:35 (NIV)
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
Firstly, it’s forever because nothing shall separate us from the love of Jesus and as such that infilling will allow us to live overflowing in love unconditionally and forever. Additionally, let’s be the dads who when we face trouble or hardship remember God’s promise in His Word so that we can keep overflowing in love unconditionally and forever. Therefore, let’s be the dads whose faith is on the firm foundation of Jesus so that when persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword comes our way we don’t stop loving because God hasn’t stopped loving us.
Be Anxious for nothing:
Today’s Devotional starts with the idea or feeling of anxiety and how “separation anxiety is defined as the fear or dread felt by a person at the prospect of being separated from a beneficial relationship or environment.” Ever dealt with isolation? Rember the COVID days? For me COVID meant my family was home all the time and so it didn’t happen then.
Working from home post COVID is when it hit me because everyone leaves and I am all alone, sure the dogs and cat are here but it’s not the same. It triggered some anxiety and yet I had to find ways to get and stay connected to break free from that spirit of fear and dread. I acknowledge that I am not alone in this perspective. Therefore, I recommend scheduling meetings specifically designed for fostering genuine connections and relationships. The nature of work meetings centers around tasks, potentially hindering the full maturation of the relational aspect unless intentional efforts prioritize and allocate time for genuine connections.
Cling to having a relationship with Jesus
Today’s Devotional speaks to how “separation anxiety becomes a disorder when it impairs one’s ability to function normally.” So, Today’s Devotional points us to the great reformer Martin Luther and his “discovery that a relationship with God is sustained by faith, not works (Romans 1:17). Discovering this truth was a game changer for me, prompting me to reflect on all the years I attended church with my family and even went through the confirmation process. I wondered how this key piece of the puzzle had somehow been overlooked during those times. It’s all about relationship with God through Jesus. A relationship that is unconditional and forever.
Fear Not, Just Believe!
As Christians, we don’t have to fear being separated from God as we learned in today’s verse. Unlike the love in this world, we need to cling to and imitate God’s love which is unconditional and forever! “God’s love is pure and permanent.” Let’s consider and reflect upon the list Paul wrote up in scripture to try and describe it:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
Today’s Devotional closes with the following reminder: “Be anxious for nothing, Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6 and that includes the permanence of God’s love.”
The true measure of God’s love is that He loves without measure.
UNKNOWN
