Vital signs- Thursday, January 18th, 2024

A love with no conditions is an overwhelming idea. It doesn’t matter if you ask for it, understand it, believe it, or even want it—you can’t ignore it. 

Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:4 that "long before [God] laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.” We see that God's love for us is unconditional because He chose us and loved us from before our first breath. He chose us before we had met any conditions. Before we had done anything to earn His love, or to lose it. 

Living with the truth of God’s unconditional love on our hearts does a few pivotal things. First, it silences the lies that we are out of reach, don’t belong, or can never be free. Those are lies that cannot stand in light of an unconditional love. 

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8 (NIV) 

Next, we see that God’s unconditional love calls us to something greater than ourselves. His love gives us a home and a family. 

“Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.” Ephesians 1:5-6 (MSG) 

Finally, as we understand God’s unconditional love for us, it helps us understand who we are. 

“It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” Ephesians 1:11-12 (MSG) 

The only response worthy of all that this unconditional love means for us, is surrender and allegiance. What better king could we love and serve? Yes, this is our God! His heart for us is good. His promise for us is real. And He will never turn His back on us. 

Father, thank You for Your unconditional love! Help me continue to discover the great magnitude of Your astonishing love in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate, how far-reaching, how enduring and inclusive it is! Help me to find find my home in You! I long for you to be my destiny! 

Team Wade loves you and is praying for you❤️👊