The writers of Encouraging.com are celebrating their fifteen year landmark by making their 365 daily devotional book, God Moments, available as a free digital download! A total of thirty-six GABC writers have faithfully captured “moments of God’s presence” in their lives to encourage your own spiritual journey. You can find God Moments on amazon.com, iTunes, and BarnesandNoble.com.


NIV is used unless otherwise noted.



THANKSGIVING: HE LOVES ME FOREVER


But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear Him.                
Psalm 103:17

 

Conditional love: love that is based on performance. If the performance does not measure up to the expectation, love is withheld or nullified.
Is this the kind of love you experienced from your parents? Do you have a spouse who demonstrates love only when you do what is pleasing? The fact is, none of us can meet the expectations of others all the time; and so, trying to maintain love from those who love conditionally is impossible.
Perhaps you daily face the frustration of trying to earn someone’s love. You try to meet expectations but never measure up. You’ve grown weary of trying and failing. You long to be loved by someone who will love you in spite of your faults.
I know someone who loves you, regardless of who you are or what you’ve done. In fact, when you were at your worst, He loved you so much that He died for you. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
Perhaps you are a part of a family where love ebbs and flows. The Lord Jesus invites you to believe in Him and enter His family where His love will be lavished upon you (I John 3:1). Throughout all eternity, nothing can ever separate you from the love of God. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).
Have you experienced this love of Christ? If not, His arms remain wide open. Believer, will you thank God today for His unconditional love? Thank Him that nothing can ever separate you from His love. Ask Him to give you unconditional love for others, even for those who love you conditionally.
 As a song of thanksgiving for God’s enduring love, will you voice Psalm 136 to God?  His love never quits! 
Jan Burkhart

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