In our world today, so much is conditional. We learn from a young age that so much depends on our actions. While our actions often determine the outcomes of our situations and some of our relationships, Scripture calls us as followers of Christ to make our love unconditional. When it comes to the people in our lives, we are to show that our love is unconditional, just like Christ shows unconditional love toward us.
We use the word "love" so often that it sometimes loses its value. After all, we love our favorite food, the newest television show, and our people. To help us understand what it means to truly and unconditionally love our people well, the apostle Paul wrote a lengthy explanation of love in 1 Corinthians 13. He began the chapter by explaining that if he knew all there was to know, spoke every language, had incredible faith, and showed amazing generosity, and he would have nothing if he did not have love (verses 1-3). You see, while these things are impressive and good, they are meaningless if they are not done in love. After setting the stage for the importance of Love, Paul defined love. He wrote, "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance" (verses 4-7). This, my friends, is what unconditional love is. Unconditional love is patient, even when we want to be impatient. It is kind. It does not get irritated easily, and the list goes on. This kind of Love, Paul explained, is the greatest thing (verse 13). This is the kind of love you and I are called to show the people in our lives, including our children.
This passage from 1 Corinthians is beautiful. It describes true, unconditional love at its core. Living the truth from this passage, however, is not always easy. It sometimes seems easier to lash out and spew unkind words instead of being patient. Imagine, however, the difference we could have if we chose to unconditionally love our people, especially the children in our lives. They need to know that we love them unconditionally. Not only this but Scripture commands us to show this kind of love.
Read through the verses in the Going Deeper section below. As you read, take note of one of the descriptions of love listed that you would like to grow in. Next, plan how you can take a step in growing in that area today. Then, as you go about your day, put that plan into action as you show unconditional love to the people around you.
"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10 But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.
11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
13 Three things will last forever-faith, hope, and love-and the greatest of these is love."
