Thankful Thursday ~ Unconditional Love

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.
(1 John 4:18-19 ESV)

Valentine’s Day, the day of LOVE. There is much written about this particular day here and here. I really do not know its origin, but I know LOVE comes from God. I counted 684 (ESV) and 763 (NLT) times the word LOVE in Scripture.

You see, God’s love is unconditional (see 1 John 4:18-19 and John 3:16-17 for example). Over the past year, I have been intentional about unconditional love. My love toward others, if romantic or friendships, should be just as God’s love toward me. I know that it is sometimes not easy to love others, especially the ones that do not like you, but Jesus had even something to say about that:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”
(Matthew 5:43-46 ESV – emphasis mine)

Yes, love needs to be unconditional and I am thankful for God’s unconditional love.

What are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us by leaving a link to your Thankful Thursday post below.

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: be intentional about LOVE, don’t just love your brother, sister, friend or husband/wife…love unconditionally!

Love & peace,
Iris

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