LOVE IN THE NEW YEAR

This is love that does not quit.  This is love that loves despite knowing everything about you, even the ugly, bumpy, mangled pieces of your past.  This is love that lays itself down selflessly.  This is love that gives and forgives again, and again, and again... This is the love of God. 
In general we are conditional lovers.  Conditional love says: "I will love you if..." "I will love you if you do what I want."  "I will love you if you make me happy all the time."  "I will love you if you look how I want you to look."  "I will love you if you conform to my many rules."  Unconditional love says: "I will love you always." "I will love you irregardless."  "I will love you no matter what."  "I will love you even when you are unlovable."  The only true, pure, unconditional love is found in God.  "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."  (1 John 4:9-10)  "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)  
Unconditional love, the love that we all so desire, the love that just simply loves at all times, in all circumstances, in all places, can only truly be found through Christ in God.  A good person may love in a good way.  A great person may love in a great way.  But no person can truly love another unconditionally, apart from the love of God.  If you take the verses in 1 Corinthians above, and you replace the word 'love' with the word 'Jesus' you will see that He is the embodiment of unconditional love.  
When we truly see the Cross, when we truly see the love of God displayed there, when we truly yield ourselves to God in complete surrender; His love is formed in us.  We are not our own, our love is not our own, our lives are not our own, and we come to say with the Apostle Paul; "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)  

Are you finding it difficult to love?
Are you finding it difficult to forgive?
Are you finding it difficult to truly express your heart?
Are you finding it difficult to find and keep love?
Are you finding it difficult to let go of past hurts?
Are you finding it difficult to truly live out of your true self?
Are you finding it difficult to let go and move forward?

Embrace the love of God, let the love of God embrace you, embrace others with the love you have been given in Christ...love unconditionally as He loves you.


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Written by Anne Marie Hawke
December 2018