Unconditional – Toni Babcock
“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vine; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18 KJV)
Here is love that resides above circumstance, not touched by the ambiguities of doubt. A love that hears no evil, sees no evil, and speaks no evil of the One who fills its heart with unending joy.
We often bask in the thought of God’s unconditional love. We hear His promise: “But God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 KJV). We acknowledge He is the Author of love and Love itself – finding a way to redeem and deliver wretched sinners like ourselves from destruction. Yet at times, God tests our faith to prove whether we have a solid grip on the concept of unconditional love for Him. Consider the man Job who lost everything, yet his faith held firm. He said, “The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD,” (Job 1:21b KJV).
Though hard to comprehend when life is good, through faith the worst of times can be some of the best of times. Habakkuk knew it well when he ended his praise with, “The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hind’s feet, and he will make me to walk upon my high places.” (Habakkuk 3:19 KJV)
Toni M. Babcock is author of The Stone Writer and Reflections from the Heart, in Light of the Gospel of Jesus. Contact |
