Love

i know that jesus loves me unconditionally. i know it because i’ve read it in the bible and because people around me remind me of that all the time. maybe it seems easier to grasp the concept of a God loving unconditionally, to love us despite our transgressions. He is, after all, supposed to be GOD. He’s supposed to be able to do everything. but the commandment that is given to us is to ‘love each other the same way that i love you’ (John 15:12). i think one of the best advice i’ve gotten in recent days is “it’s better to be kind than to be right“. so i guess the challenge really is for a mere human being with finite abilities to love the way God loves. [and i guess ultimately, our selfish desires also crave that unconditionalGodlylove from the people around us. am i wrong to say that?]

or perhaps, the commandment’s just a tool for us. so that when we apply it to our daily lives, we can truly comprehend the depth of God’s love for us?

i got bits and pieces of the following from crosswalk:

What is this love? This word (in our society) has become so watered down. It is used to describe feelings for inanimate objects, food, television shows, and every once in awhile, people. We use love in relationships the same way that we describe our favorite sports team. When all is going well, there is an abundance of love, but when we’re “losing” or things are going poorly, we blame others and our love is gone.

The love that Jesus talks about is not a passing or temporary emotion, nor is it superficial. Rather it’s a choice, a decision, a commitment, an action. Love is not based upon attraction, but virtue. In order to love others in the same way that Jesus loves us, we must learn how to love the Lord, and then how to love ourselves.

1) Love the Lord

2) Love ourselves

3) Love others

(read the entire article here)

i know i’ve oversimplified the whole thing just by putting it into 3 points. but really, the main idea, i believe, is in the order. point 3 cannot go before 2 and 2 cannot go before 1. Godly love for others is unattainable if we don’t first love God.

Loving God is the foundation, the core of our relationships.

The walk with God. it’s not easy but it’s not meant to be complicated either. I’m struggling. I need to start returning to the basics.

[aside: i thought abit about the difference between 'believing there's a God' 'and 'believing in God'. i figured that the difference in 'believing in God' is the response we give to the Gospel of truth that is given to us. response - not so much of what we do because we know God doesn't want our 'good deeds' and it's not 'good deeds' that defines us. but really, it's the 'Love God' response that differentiates the 2. (the article touches abit about what it means to love God) (could i possibly put it into the context of a boygirlrelationship or marriage? that when we've met the one we believe in and we love, we don't just sit passively and wait for them to pass us by, we naturally respond in that way that isn't defined by what we do/what we buy/what we say?)]