More on Love & Grace
Just a few quick thoughts to expand on yesterday's post on True Love. True love, gracious love, is found in actions taken (as opposed to feelings felt) on behalf of another human being to serve them with no regard for earthly reward or return. When this love is highest and pure, it is without sin. We are in the will of God, as it were. We all know that we are supposed to love each other, but when do we really know that we are giving true love? Reliably, our human failings intrude and corrupt our motives. This is to be expected. I believe that what God wants from us is mindful, purposeful love. That we get up in the morning and actually think about how we can better love our neighbor, and then take action on it. Yes, pray for help for it too. People who want to get into better shape know they have to actually pay attention to what they eat and how much exercise they need to reach their goals. No one simply shrugs their way from flab to firm without a conscious thought. It requires discipline, planning and sacrifice.Truth is, we are called to put all our heart, mind, and strength into loving our neighbor. True loving our neighbor. Every waking hour of the day, for our entire lives. This is not a call to follow your heart, or listen to your feelings. It is a call to all-consuming commitment.
Shaking your head, daunted at the task? Aware that you haven't even come close to that standard? Welcome to the domain of the sinner. Everybody else is here too. Let's just be mindful and do better by each other.
posted by Zeke @ 7:53 AM
2 Comments:
The way I see it, and surely my way is the right way (hehehe), we practice conditional love because we believe God puts conditions on his love for us. If we must live up to God's expectations, then others must live up to ours. It's only fair, right?
But, when we come to know how complete and pure God's love is, we begin to overflow that love to everyone around us. We can't help it. He is the giver of life, and he provides an abundance to all who desire it. And that life becomes evident to those we come into contact with. It's a wonderful plan, but it only starts when we understand how great his love for us is.
Can you relate? Or am I all screwed up?
Yes, I can relate, but I think it's important to note that any human is capable of giving unconditional love. It doesn't require an acknowledgement of God.
Since "all creation testifies" and "all are without excuse", we should expect that people should not only know what unconditional love is, but should suspect somewhere in their souls that this is how they are supposed to live. Otherwise, they would have an excuse, no?
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