I went to the store last night and when I was done picking up the items I originally went for, I decided to take a stroll in the home section of the store. I came across a canvas with the passage “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 4-7 NIV.
My devotion this morning was in Ruth. But guess what? Yup, you guessed it, the actual devotion, tied the scripture in Ruth, along with the above passage together. It was more of a reference that the passage that we use so often in wedding vows weren’t exactly intended as that. While from my own personal experience, I can see where these things are applicable, it is more to explain to the Corinthians the general concept of love and how they should treat each other.
Even after this morning’s devotion, I still had nothing to share with you. It wasn’t until I had a conversation with my 4 year old, that I now want to talk about love. I tell her frequently that I love her. Words of affirmation are one of my major love languages, so I believe in constantly affirming her. I think she has acquired the same habit – so she tells me frequently that she loves me. After she told me that she loves me for about the fifth time in less than ten minutes, I decided to ask her why she loves me. She responded “because I like you”. Ok, I’m thrilled that she likes me. I know from experience that I can love someone and not really like them at times. Ok – so why do you like me? Her response “because I love you. “ Ok – I see where this is going. Is there any particular reason you love me, do I do something? Her response, “No – I just love you.”
I started thinking just how much I do for her and how come she doesn’t love me for those things. But then my thought shifted, it was just like God’s love for me. There is nothing that I can do to earn His love. He loves me. Just because He loves me. It’s really that simple. I might think there are things that I should be doing to earn His love, but there is nothing that I can do to earn it, and not really much I can do to lose it either. How amazing is that concept?
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for your love. Thank you for loving me just because. Lord, help me to accept your unconditional love for what it is, realizing that I cannot earn it and you have already given it to me freely.
It is difficult to give away kindness. It keeps coming back to you. Cort Flint