Do you appreciate, understand, know that the entire Bible is a love letter from the Father to His creation, more specifically – You. The Word is always love, even when He is bringing correction – the reason, the purpose, the foundation is always Love.
“… advancing God’s program of instruction which is grounded in faith [and requires surrendering the entire self to God in absolute trust and confidence]. But the goal of our instruction is love [which springs] from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
[1 Timothy `:4b-5, AMP]
The Message Bible phrases 1 Timothy 1:5 as: ” The whole point of what we’re urging is simply love—love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God.” Uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith. I don’t know about you but I want my love to be demonstrable, unashamed, full of joy and unconditional. I’m not certain how to do unconditional love but I do know I don’t want to imply that there are ‘conditions’ to my love.
My ‘model’, my frame of reference is the Lord. He always displayed unconditional love as does the Father. Neither of them, nor the Holy Spirit, are just waiting for us to make a mistake, do or say something that we shouldn’t. They are ready to swoop down upon us. Which also does not mean that they are displeased. You do remember that they are Omni, yes? They’re not surprised nor do they look at us with a ‘why did you do that’ expression. They know… they’re just waiting for us to realize and repent. They are always cheering us on to grow and learn about themselves as the basis for how we act. And they NEVER withhold love.
“Who shall ever separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Just as it is written and forever remains written,
‘For Your sake we are put to death all day long; We are regarded as sheep
for the slaughter.’
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]. For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [Romans 8:35-39, AMP]
Without question, every Christian should memorize those 4 verses because of the power of this message and the reality of the power of their Love. There are multiple times that we need a defense against what we are experiencing – the Love of our Lord is critical during these times. But it is based in OUR belief. And our belief is based in our experience. So, the question is – have you experienced the Love from the Lord? The obvious answer is ‘yes’ but the point is whether we recognized it.
We have ALWAYS been the center of the Father’s thoughts and actions. His love for us is without parallel. The entire reason for Jesus coming, dying, being resurrected is for us… the Love for us. And the reason that the Holy Spirit was sent and is ministering in our world is their Love for us. Love is and has always been the foundation, the motivation, the action – and we are the recipients. But we are also the dispenser of this love to the world we live in:
1 John 4:7-8, AMP
“Beloved, let us [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God and knows God [through personal experience]. The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.]”
