Unconditional Love

If we are to please Christ, there is no other option—we are commanded to love. Unconditional, grace-giving love must be our commitment, standard, and model every day if we want our children to know the Lord and commit their lives to Him. None of us is perfectly mature or strong in these areas; I have felt disqualified in this role as a mom many times when I became angry or irritated or said unkind words. But the ideal I get back to is to ask for forgiveness, give grace, and verbalize love. As we strive toward and practice God’s ideals, our children will be given a foundation of emotional security.

The reverse is also true. If we harbor bitterness toward others, if we are regularly critical of people and do not forgive those who have offended us, we are leaving our children a wrong image of God, for we are their picture of His love and lovingkindness. Our words might say, “Love one another,” but our actions may not. While many areas factor into rebellion, some children rebel because of hypocrisy in their home, where critical, pharisaical attitudes were the norm, rather than love—and it produced children who did not know God because the reality of His love was not the predominant character quality they witnessed.

Living together at home offers multiple opportunities on a daily basis for us to practice forgiveness! Perhaps we need to be reminded so often of our own need for God’s forgiveness.

His Promises

Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own 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.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.