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Pastors Comments

Unrequitted Love
December 18, 2006

Pastor Ralph Green

We have all read, been taught, observed and perhaps experienced the many tangles that love relationships take. The gamut of emotions are often experienced within the confines of two people in all they go thru in their experience with one another. Acquaintance, growing interest, passion and then disappointment is a pattern so very often endured. Recovery from the depths of disappointment sometimes occurs with a more mature relationship resulting. Failure is the human experience and we dismiss the many times we hurt by excusing, saying that we are just human. Just because we declare the truth does not relieve the painfulness nor lasting injury. Confession, repentance and restoration imbeds a history of scars indelibly etched into our souls.

The declaration of this truth shadows a contrast between how we live as people and how God relates to us. We have spoken of following the dark painful paths, while He is light and life. We stand in less illuminated places because of our withdrawal from His unconditional love. The destiny of each individual rests on his or her response to God’s love.

"John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."

The above outlines the Christmas story and carries thru to the substitutionary death of Christ on the Cross accompanied by His resurrection from the grave and promise to prepare a place for us to be with Him. It’s inconceivable how men can walk past this measure of love and pursue their own selfish motivations but we are assured that they do. "Lost and undone without God or His Son" intones the words of a song. A sad eternal estate awaits these who pander solely to his motivations. It is hard to conceive of a more heart wrenching condition.

I am left to wonder how God experiences His relationship with those who have claimed His as their Savior and God and yet live a life always on the fringes of a vibrant relationship. Doing the minimums characterizes so many. Some are led by church rules that may state so many church attendances per year. Some relish God only when pain or other need challenges their life. A personal memory of mine has to do with my children when they were young would always want to know where we were going when I requested their presence individually accompanying me on some minor excursion. I always wished they would have desired to go because we could have gone together. It was the relationship that I sought while their goal was placed in a different quarter. Most often I proceeded alone and a little at a loss. I know how that made me feel.

I wonder how God feels when He requests that we simply walk with Him throughout our days and we have some other motivation in mind?

Please have a God blessed Christmas season.

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