Unconditional love II
Key verse: Luke 3:11
He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
Acts 9:10-16
If we must love like Christ loves us, our love must be devoid of condition. So many times, we withhold our hands from doing good to our neighbor because of the condition of that neighbor. Meanwhile, when God directed that we love our neighbors as ourselves, He did not say it must be that neighbor that is of any condition or the other. The only condition which is the minimum, is to love like self by sharing precisely what you will have. When you have two coats, give out one because you do not need more than one to get warm. The other you keep is not just because you need it. It is simply extra while there is someone who has none to keep him warm. It does not matter if the fellow in need is unfriendly, difficult or terrible.
Saul of Tarsus was a murderer and a persecutor of Christians. But all of a sudden, he had need for the truth and recovery of sight which only a Christian had enough to share. Ananias was a Christian that had it and could share. He was handy at the time. When consulted by the One who commands that we love unconditionally, told Ananias to go and share. Rather than proceed to share, Ananias gave reasons why Saul did not deserve to be loved and therefore should be left in his weakness and “suffering”. But the Author of life, who knows His plan for every life had a better response for Ananias. This Saul regarded worthless and therefore unlovable was prepared by God to bring the Gospel to Gentiles, kings and the Israelites. If Ananias had insisted on not sharing love with Saul of Tarsus, perhaps he would not have become Paul the Apostle and the world would have been prevented from the great works God did through him. Ananias would have: failed God regarding loving his neighbor; and been responsible for the resultant failings of Paul.
That person you are withholding your hands from reaching out to in his weakness may be a chosen vessel for the purpose of God. The fact that he is a difficult person is not enough an excuse for you. You are to love him unconditionally. Refusing to do so may lead to his waterloo and thereby affect his loved ones and offspring in life. Your holding back may have a ripple effect on many without you knowing. That good which you know to do but refuse is accounted as sin before God. Do that good to your neighbor in love today.
Pray: Father, help me never to block my mind to anyone in need ever again in Jesus name.