Limitless Love

Have you ever thought about the limits of love? We all have our limits at which we draw the line - whether in a dating or marriage relationship, a parent/child relationship, or a friendship. Maybe for you it's lying, cheating, gossiping, or stealing. Or perhaps you consider someone unworthy of your love if they aren't supportive of you, don't believe the best in you, manipulate you, or have a bad reputation that could damage your own. Whatever it may be, we all have limits to our love.

Some of you may not like to admit that... so I challenge you to think back through some of your relationships in life. At what point did you break up with your high school sweetheart? Maybe when they kissed your best friend or you found out they were denying your relationship all together. When did you give up on that friendship you had for years? Was it when she spread a terrible rumor about you or perhaps when she seemingly moved on to a new group of friends? When did you decide divorce was the best option? Maybe it was an affair, anger, or abuse. When did you stop speaking to your child or parent? Was it when they stole from you, or maybe when they said they didn't love you anymore? .... Ok, those are your limits.

My limits have changed over the years and I am seeking to love in a way more like the love God has for us! I want to aim for forgiveness, not revenge. I want to love unconditionally! But in my own strength, I cannot do that -- and neither can you. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to love others (and even ourselves) the way God loves. God has no limits in His love. As Shannon Ethridge writes in her book Completely Loved, "He promises to be faithful to you, even if you are unfaithful to Him. His love for you is unconditional. He will never turn His back on you, will never forsake you, wouldn't dream of slamming the door and driving away, or ripping your heart out and stomping on it." That's the kind of love I want to have for God and others, but I absolutely need Him to empower me to do so.

Can you readjust your limits in love to be more like Christ's? How can you seek to love others better? It could start with forgiveness, reconciliation, or it could just mean starting fresh in the next relationship with a makeover on your limits. I encourage you to seek to love others like God loves you!