REDEEMING LOVE

John 3:16- “For this is how God loved the world: He gave^[a] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Rom 5:8 and 9 '"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.”

Salut Cher! Today I hope to share with you certain thoughts that I have engaged recently. I hope you find them as exciting as I have, and that you practice them too (which is most vital).

These thoughts have been channelled mainly in the direction of the word LOVE.

“LOVE, studying you has taught me such big eternal lessons and I remain amazed”

Lately, I have had thoughts of an unconditional love - a love that deprives itself of all forms of reputation so as to meet the need of its recipient (Phil. 2 : 5-7). A love that puts others first. (Sometimes not immediately for the people who can be so difficult to handle) but as we receive the love of CHRIST, we selflessly love even the seemingly difficult persons.

The normal everyday lifestyle teaches people to be selfish and self-seeking all the time. It teaches people that being selfless and putting one’s life on the line for others is an unprofitable act and a show of foolishness in its highest order. Have you ever watched a movie where two friends are recently not getting along for one reason or the other? As a matter of fact, one of the friends seem to be uninterested in the relationship and is already hanging out with a whole new clique of friends. However instead of reciprocating the reluctant friend’s action, the other friend acts in such a way as one wouldn’t expect: (s)he treats the other as if s(he) were a faithful and loving friend. All the movies we ever watched in that direction portrayed the individual as a fool. I agreed to that fact too at some point. I thought, wetin concern you and I thought it was demeaning of an individual’s worth and that the undeserving friend would take him or her for granted. Now this could apply to any kind of relationship: The relationship between you and your driver, a sales girl, a gardener, your gate-keeper, your niece, your nephew, your cousin, your sub-ordinate at work, etc., whoever it may be and for whatever reason, CHRIST is never satisfied till we love everyone else as HE does.

The illustration above reminds me so much of what JESUS did for us (the world) at Calvary, GOD did not love HIS people, or wait to love the people HE desired to see, and HE loved the world so that by showing us that love, we could become the people HE longed to see. Isn’t that nice? GOD’s love didn’t wait for us to be better people before HE released compassion upon us, instead, HE released HIS love over us in great magnitudes so that as we receive this never-ending-love, we get to see, believe and become all that the LORD has in store for us. Now it’s our turn to do same by refusing the satanic, prideful thought of maintaining your reputation and self-value and simply love. Watch your worth grow in the sight of others. Now that’s true returns.

Finally, please be reminded that being snobbish or prideful. Waiting for all the love and respect to come to you will never increase your self-repute, rather it destroys it because nobody ever likes or desires a person who always wants to spell out and emphasize their wealth, riches, fame or name. Those people would rather lose any previous respect people had for them. Nothing announces you like a life of love, yet don’t let the benefits be your motivation. Let your love for CHRIST be that strong force pushing you towards love for others all the time.

Can I get an Amen?

Aaaammeeen!

Beyond words,

MONIC.