Unconditional love is the first fruit of the spirit. However, have you ever thought about what unconditional love really is or what it really means? How can we show that same love to each other? This world is pretty dark at times and, often, it is hard to see the light of God.
God showed us unconditional love in that He first loved us while we were still sinners. You see, He came to the least of us not the religious and political leaders. He was born in a manger. He was not born to some rich family.
There are no conditions to his love. There is nothing we can do to earn his love. It is a gift and it is freely given. We just have to accept it.
The Unconditional Love of God
He came to the sinners, tax collectors, murderers, prostitutes, women and children, fishermen- flawed people not perfect people. Just like you and me. He came to die for us in our place so that we could spend eternity with Him in Heaven.
Can you even imagine giving up your child to save someone else? I can’t.
Unconditional Love- The First Fruit Of The Spirit
Also, love is the first fruit of the Spirit. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit and all the other fruit of the spirit are based on it. Each one of the fruits of the spirit builds on the previous one as we grow in our relationship with the Lord.
This goes to the heart of our purpose in Christ Jesus. We are called to “love God first and then love our neighbor as ourself”.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:30-31 NIV
If we do that, everything else will follow.
Although it is simple it is not always easy to do. And, it’s only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Unconditional Love- A Deeper Definition
1 Corinthians 13 is known as the love chapter. If you are looking to define unconditional love, this is the ultimate definition.
It says:
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 MEV
How many of us are able to do that on our own? Even a small part? I don’t know about you, but I definitely don’t always show this kind of love to others- not even my loved ones. I want to and feel bad when I don’t. Oftentimes, I am selfish and seek my own comfort or benefit. It is only with God’s help that I can even hope to show that kind of unconditional love to others.
Motives are Important- Our Call to Unconditional Love
However, God not only wants us to show that same love to others but He wants us to do so for the right reasons. He doesn’t want us to do things because of what we might get but because we genuinely want to be a blessing. He wants us to share the love that He extended to us with others.
No matter how good you think you are as a person, nothing else matters if you don’t act in love- unconditional love.
You may give lots of money to charity but if your motives aren’t right and you don’t do things for the right reasons it is meaningless.
God looks at your heart first.
The Widow’s Mite
In the story of the Widow’s mite, the widow put in only two small mites into the treasury. However, because hear heart was right it was worth far more to God than what others with a lot of money. She gave out of her poverty while others gave out of their abundance.
Once again, motives are very important.
Conclusion
God’s love is the light that will dispel all the darkness around us. We are called to share that light. I challenge you to examine your motives, act in love, reach out to others. Time is short in this world. What kind of legacy do you want to leave? Money and the things of this world will fade away but the unconditional love of God will never fade away and what you do in love will never fade.
We may not get it perfect, but God doesn’t expect us to. He just wants us to act in love. I wonder how life these days may be different, it we kept things simple and just acted in love regardless of race, age, gender, nationality and the like?
You may also want to check out my post on Joy is a Fruit of the Spirit. Also, if you haven’t already, you can get a FREE copy of my first devotional book- Loving Jesus: A 30 Day Devotional. Just click the link below.
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