LOVE LIKE THERE IS NO TOMORROW
What if today were your last day on earth? What if it was your last week or month? We never know when our time on earth is up. It is the height of arrogance and pride for me to say: “I guarantee you that I will …”. I can not guarantee anything except what I do in this next second. For as sure as these fingers are moving, and my eyes see this screen, I can guarantee you that I am still in human form. But this next keystroke may be my last. And, this blog post may be the last thing you ever see before Christ takes you home, my sister or brother. I wonder what the Lord thinks about all this planning that we do? All these bold statements we make. All these declarations of our future earthly intentions. I heard it well said that the surest way to make God laugh is to tell Him our plans. Smile.
Dear child, today, explore My love in light of the other things that you and others let get in the way of it, like your “plans.” Here is a scripture to ponder: “And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.” (Matthew 5:36 NIV) Also, these scriptures: “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. (James 4:13-17 NIV) What kind of love do you think this is?
Father God, our “plans” can lead to conditional love. I will love Christ if …:
• If you grant me my prayer requests
• If you give me business success
• If you protect my family
• If you give me good health
• If you help me do anything that I want to do
All of the “ifs” are in the future, and it assumes I will be here.
Correct. And are you not taking my place, and trying to be God, when you put conditions on your love with me, or anyone else?
WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT TOMORROW, BUT WE HAVE TODAY
Yes, Lord. I don’t know what tomorrow brings. I don’t know what the next few minutes or hours may bring. My job is to love you, myself, and others, in each and every moment, without the arrogance or pride to think that tomorrow I will be here. Our love for others and ourselves are often conditional. “I will love myself if…”
• If I feel loved
• If others accept me
• If I perform in a certain way
Or, “I will love others if …”
• If they love me the way I want to be loved
• If I feel their love
• If they perform in a certain way
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
Dear child, accept my love. Bathe in it. Bask in the glory of knowing me. Enjoy our relationship. Keep me and you in the right perspective: I am God. You are not. You have no control over your next breath. Hold all your plans loosely. Love deeply and completely, in each and every moment that you have on earth. And then, my dear, carry this understanding into every relationship you form and every encounter you have. Love your spouse, your children, your friends, and your neighbors as if this moment might be your last with them. Cherish the conversations, the shared laughter, the small gestures of kindness and support. This is not to be done out of fear or anxiety of what might come, but rather out of a profound appreciation of the present, by the power of my Holy Spirit.
EMBRACING THIS MOMENT FOR LOVE
All, each and every interaction we have is a unique piece of life’s rich tapestry. We can weave the threads of love and kindness into this tapestry so deeply that it becomes a work of art that will outlast our earthly existence. Or, we can choose the path of sinful pride and arrogance to think that we are in control over our destiny. We are not! And, let us consider the way we love ourselves. Often, we are our harshest critics, and we set conditions for our own self-love. If I lose weight, I will love myself. If I get a promotion, I will love myself. If I find the right partner, I will love myself. This conditional love does us a great disservice and separates us from the full love and acceptance we receive from Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Dear child, yes, love yourself now, without conditions. Embrace the flaws and mistakes as parts of you that are just as deserving of My love as the more admirable aspects. Loving yourself in this way can be liberating, and it allows you to extend that same love to others. You have heard it said many times, you can not give what you have not received. Fully receive my love, so you can love yourself, and others, with My love, the love of Christ.
THE CHALLENGE
All, the real challenge is this: Can you love as if there’s no tomorrow? Can you love without conditions, without hesitation, without fear? It’s a tall order, but one that can transform your life in profound ways. The next time you interact with someone, see if you can remind yourself to love them without conditions, as if this were your last chance to do so. Love yourself in the same way. Remember, love is not a finite resource. The more you give, the more it replenishes. It transcends our earthly constraints and echoes into eternity. Love boldly, love deeply, and most importantly, love as if there is no tomorrow. For love is the language that the soul understands and cherishes. I challenge me and you to love Christ with Christ’s love; to love ourselves with Christ’s love; and to love others with Christ’s love.
CLOSING PRAYER
Our Father in Heaven, help us grasp this understanding of love. Let our hearts be conduits of your divine love that transcends time and space. Teach us to live in the present, love without conditions, and cherish each moment as the precious gift that it is. Amen.
As we move through our day today, I challenge us to love like there is no tomorrow. Let us be present in each moment, hold no conditions, and love boldly. Remember, love is the greatest gift we can give and receive, and it’s a gift that carries on far beyond our time here on earth. So go forth and love, my friends. Let us love like there is no tomorrow.
Your aspiring servant,
Daniel M.
13 July 2023
POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent conversation with God blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily Conversations with Christ.
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