Unconditional

Earlier today on Bellshill Salvation Army Band’s Facebook page I shared some Good Friday devotions. I’d like to share those devotions with you tonight.

Over the years a lots of studies and books have been written about love, and the definition of love. There’s one definition of love that as Christians, we should consider to be the most accurate definition of not just love, but unconditional love – that definition can be found in the bible.

This is the embodiment of true love: not that we have loved God first, but that He loved us and sent His unique Son on a special mission to become an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 4:10 (The Voice)

Love is a not just a feeling, an action, or even a commitment, but it all those things and more! Love is beyond words. Love is God. Unconditional love is the love that God demonstrated to us so clearly when he sent his Son to earth, to not just live as one of us, but to give the ultimate sacrifice of His life, so our sins could be forgiven.

We can try to comprehend how much God loves us, but will we ever manage to fully understand just how great His love for us is. After all how many of us would ever voluntarily sacrifice someone dearest to us, just to save someone else! God willingly sacrificed what was dearest to him for the sake of those who needed him more. Jesus sacrifice was required because, as a human race, we couldn’t save ourselves. All because God loves us unconditionally!

We pray today on this Good Friday, that although our love for God may feel so inadequate compared to the unconditional love that God shows us, that God will live in each one of us, and in doing so He will help our love to grow, not just for Him, but for everyone.

You see me though a lens of perfect love
And no mistake could change Your mind
You see my brokenness, there's no disguise
But there is mercy in Your eyes

Unconditional, undeniable
Oh, what perfect love, You proved it on the cross
Unconditional, unmistakable
Time and time again, in spite of everything
It's unconditional
Unconditional

You see right through the mess of sin and shame
You see a child who needs You grace
You run to meet me at the broken road
And in Your arms I know I'm home

Unconditional, undeniable
Oh, what perfect love
You proved it on the cross
Unconditional, unmistakable
Time and time again
In spite of everything
It's unconditional
Unconditional

You call me child, I'm not rejected
Call me Your's, I am accepted
Now just as I am
With all my faults and all my failures
Love redeems and Your grace covers me
Just as I am

Unconditional, undeniable
Oh, what perfect love
You proved it on the cross
Unconditional, unmistakable
Time and time again
In spite of everything
It's unconditional
Unconditional
Undeniable

Your heart has welcomed me just as I am
But to be loved is to be changed