Unconditional Love

Posted by Streams School of Ministry, NH

When we are born we learn very quickly that we have desires and that if we act in a certain manner those desires and needs will be met. We whine; our parents will serve us. We cry; our parents will hold us. In the same way, we pray surely God will give us our desires. Over the course of our lives we then learn that the world does not revolve around us; that we are not the center of the universe.

Currently many of us in the internship are realizing that we are selfish in our relationships. To quote the band Me without You, “We say our love is real... but what we mean is I like the way you make me feel.” We like what others do for us... we like what the Lord does for us... but our “love” is really a selfish feeling. In actual fact, parents are made for their children, husbands are to lay down their lives for their wives, truly a man has no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. In essence, we are to love God with everything we are and prefer others above ourselves. We need to become more concerned about the Lord's feelings. To fill the needs and desires of others devoid of any selfish motive, indeed, before any thought of self comes to mind.
This process, that of becoming a selfless lover, is one of unearthing embedded false motives and the deeply lodged expectation of a return on our investment; a trait that is so prevalent in our western culture today.

If one requests Love himself to make them a selfless lover they can expect a measure of pain as their selfish humanity is laid bare; as their dark hidden agendas are brought to the light. But it is this same painful process that brings a glorious opportunity for change, a chance for a new way of loving, and though difficult results in something truly beautiful. A being free to love without condition; a reflection of a love that transcends all. A reflection of Jesus.

Matthew Ryan Keating
2nd Year Leader