Unconditional

Love. Perhaps the most overused and misunderstood word in the English language, it's easy to see why love is underrated and overrated at the same time. I love to travel and I love to run. I love chocolate and I love my mom. I loved my Subaru, I don't love my Ford. I love Jesus my Savior, and He loves me.

You see? Confusing. Of course we all assume the intensity of the love based on the context. But have you ever wondered if we actually don't differentiate and only think we do? What if our brains register love for orchids in the same category as love for family? Hot disaster. I only say this because I've recently wondered if I truly believe the Bible when it speaks of God's steadfast love for us, or if I skim over it as I would someone writing of their love for Michael Jackson. There's a massive difference, and I've been shocked to realize that I have to consciously process it in order to realize it.

I'm not suggesting that we add more 'love' words to our language (although it's not a bad idea). That's not my point. Love is sacred. It is pure, its beneficiaries don't compete for love. It's given freely, fully, completely. Love originated in God, and it knows no condition. We can't search its depth, and therefore can never be beyond its reach. It is the safest place to be.

Psalm 63:3-4. "Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands."

I had been thinking about this for several days, and timing was perfect. A few days ago, some people I LOVE very much told me that my tongue was malfunctioning. Or maybe it was my heart that was in the wrong place, but either way, I needed to be inspected and fix my DRA (dirty rotten attitude). This is painful to hear, especially when your name means "full of grace" and that is what you hope to be. But because of God's steadfast love, I need not despair. He is a refuge, a safe haven that wants love and humility from His children.

This is love:
Ephesians 1:7-10. "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."

In love is hope. precious hope. precious Jesus. worthy of all our best and deepest love.