Love, Period

The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”
Jeremiah 31:3

How many times have you heard someone say (or perhaps said it yourself): “I love you if . . .”; “I love you because . . .”; “I love you when . . . ?” Compare those phrases with these: “I love you even though . . .”; “I love you in spite of . . .”; “I love you, period.” The truth is we don’t hear people say those words verbally as much as we see them act out the words non-verbally. The first set of words are examples of conditional love; the second set are examples of unconditional love. God loves the second way: “I love you, period.”

God has always loved that way. In fact, He told His Chosen People, Israel, that He did not choose them because they were a large and impressive people (Deuteronomy 7:7). In truth, He didn’t choose them at all. He chose Abraham, their forefather. And because of His love for Abraham, Israel enjoyed His love as well. Even when Israel was at her worst, God said through Jeremiah, “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love.”

Don’t ever mistake the world’s love (if, because, when) for God’s love (no conditions). God’s love for you never changes (2 Timothy 2:13).

God doesn’t owe us anything—yet in His grace, He still gives us good things.
Billy Graham