Pastor Okunola Barnabas

 UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE."And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5:5 KJV).

Love energises hope and faith! Some folks are ashamed to love because they think love is a sign of weakness. Some others are so ignorant and equate love with sex. Love is much bigger than a sexual relationship. Love is God's nature.The Bible says God is love.

"He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love." (1 John 4:8 AMP).

If you are ashamed to love you are simply ashamed of God! Love should excite you because it makes you superior to all those around you. Love makes you relevant in God's Kingdom. When you do not love, it is a sign that you do not know God or you are not acquainted with Him because you cannot know God and not love.

When you meet with God, His love will be shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit. The moment you received the Holy Spirit of God inside of you,the spirit of love also came into your life.All you need is to activate it through knowledge and practice it so everyone knows that you know God. Do not hate anyone or live in bitterness.

Many people are good until they begin to react to their situations.The Bible says,

"He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap." (Ecclesiastes 11:4 KJV).

You cannot live in love if your love is based on what happens or does not happen.The devil hates love and knows that love is God. You cannot see love and not see God.

Until your love goes beyond conditional love you cannot exercise God's divine love. Unconditional love involves loving without the influence of your environment. God's love is unconditional, He does not love because of what He sees you do. God's love is constant in spite of your shortcomings. He makes the sun shine on the good and the bad. The rain also falls for the benefit of both categories of people.

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."

(Matthew 5:44, 45 KJV).

You must imbibe the habit of making excuses for people and love them unconditionally according to Gods word. Christ loved us while we were yet sinners.Therefore, love them inspite of their wrong. The Bible says we should use good to conquer evil,

"Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good." (Romans 12:21 AMP).

Love is superior to hatred malice, bitterness,strife, envy etc.It superceeeds every evil act. Overcome evil with good by loving everyone who comes your way unconditionally.You are a winner!

Today's Response.

Go out and love the unlovable with God's kind of love!