Divine love conditional?

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Wolfwoman
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by Wolfwoman »

Luke wrote: January 13th, 2025, 10:44 am
Wolfwoman wrote: January 13th, 2025, 10:42 am I do believe God’s love is unconditional. But he also cast Satan and his followers out of Heaven and cast Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden.
That doesn’t make His love unconditional. Unconditional love doesn’t mean doing whatever someone else wants and no consequences for wrongdoing.
I have no idea what you’re saying in response to what I said. Does not compute. Did you mean to say conditional? I didn’t say that casting them out made his love conditional.

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Luke
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by Luke »

Wolfwoman wrote: January 14th, 2025, 9:38 am
Luke wrote: January 13th, 2025, 10:44 am
Wolfwoman wrote: January 13th, 2025, 10:42 am I do believe God’s love is unconditional. But he also cast Satan and his followers out of Heaven and cast Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden.
That doesn’t make His love unconditional. Unconditional love doesn’t mean doing whatever someone else wants and no consequences for wrongdoing.
I have no idea what you’re saying in response to what I said. Does not compute. Did you mean to say conditional? I didn’t say that casting them out made his love conditional.
Yeah spelling error by me.

Edited it.

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Thinker
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by Thinker »

Luke wrote: January 13th, 2025, 10:44 am That doesn’t make His love conditional. Unconditional love doesn’t mean doing whatever someone else wants and no consequences for wrongdoing.
Good point.
I see love as unconditional - like a state of being, intent & faith in action. Love from a healthy parent, especially Heavenly Parent, is unconditional. Consequences are based on conditions. But real love persists.

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Rumpelstiltskin
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by Rumpelstiltskin »

I don't think there are conditions on God's love. I love my wayward children despite what they do. However, there are conditions on God's acceptance of us.

D&C 82:10 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.

He loves us, but he will still condemn us for failing to keep his commandments.

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Telavian
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by Telavian »

Rumpelstiltskin wrote: January 14th, 2025, 11:27 am I don't think there are conditions on God's love. I love my wayward children despite what they do. However, there are conditions on God's acceptance of us.
Love is such a hard word to use in English. It is so encompassing and broad.

Would you still "love" your children if they started a campaign of mass genocide?
Would you still "love" your children if they started terrorizing your entire life?
Would you still "love" your children if they impersonated you and stole everything you have?

The answer to all those is probably no. However, you would of course still "love" them when they repented and sought forgiveness.

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Thinker
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by Thinker »

Telavian wrote: January 14th, 2025, 11:51 am Love is such a hard word to use in English. It is so encompassing and broad.

Would you still "love" your children if they started a campaign of mass genocide?
Would you still "love" your children if they started terrorizing your entire life?
Would you still "love" your children if they impersonated you and stole everything you have?

The answer to all those is probably no. However, you would of course still "love" them when they repented and sought forgiveness.
Love is striving for the highest GOoD for someone.

Would you still "strive for the highest GOoD for" your children if they started a campaign of mass genocide?
Would you still "strive for the highest GOoD for" your children if they started terrorizing your entire life?
Would you still "strive for the highest GOoD for" your children if they impersonated you and stole everything you have?

Yes. You may love them even more, striving even more for their good. Granted, sometimes this means not enabling, & protecting yourself or others as part of love/striving for the highest good.

Do we know what the highest good is - or are we a bit blind to it? How many of us love well? How is the quality of our love when tested?

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John Tavner
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by John Tavner »

Telavian wrote: January 14th, 2025, 11:51 am
Rumpelstiltskin wrote: January 14th, 2025, 11:27 am I don't think there are conditions on God's love. I love my wayward children despite what they do. However, there are conditions on God's acceptance of us.
Love is such a hard word to use in English. It is so encompassing and broad.

Would you still "love" your children if they started a campaign of mass genocide?
Would you still "love" your children if they started terrorizing your entire life?
Would you still "love" your children if they impersonated you and stole everything you have?

The answer to all those is probably no. However, you would of course still "love" them when they repented and sought forgiveness.
Thank God that He is God and not as the way that seems right to a man.

You certainly will not take joy in their wickedness, but it ought not cause you to cease loving them.

Jesus Died on the Cross for ALL. This includes Hitler. Did Jesus cease loving Hitler? Absolutely not. He was lifted up so all might come unto Him, including Hitler, and Stalin, and Mau, and che Guevarra etc...

Now did Jesus take pleasure in their destruction? Absolutely not, but His love didn't cease. There is punishment, there is consequence, but even His mercy can overshadow consequence because He suffered for us- but what He seeks for is us to change our mind and realize the destruction we are causing others and ourselves through selfish thinking- through seeking to elevate ourselves above others for our own gain rather than seeking blessing upon those around us- to also lift them up.

Now, if man decides to reject Christ and they understand fully what they are doing- and they no longer have any desire to do good, but instead seek to rebel against God to such an extent that they cease caring in the slightest- God is still on the cross and HE loves them- they however refuse to accept or desire grace to change (knowing full well how it works and rejecting knowledge through Holy Spirit) that they become so hardened they refuse to seek and refuse obtaining mercy and it would be as if they crucified Christ again- and sought no grace or mercy afterwards, but would do it again and again- because they don't have any desire for it.

Serragon
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by Serragon »

Rumpelstiltskin wrote: January 14th, 2025, 11:27 am I don't think there are conditions on God's love. I love my wayward children despite what they do. However, there are conditions on God's acceptance of us.

D&C 82:10 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.

He loves us, but he will still condemn us for failing to keep his commandments.
I think this is correct.

The atonement is always there for us no matter how far off the path we have wandered. I suppose this could be considered a manifestation of unconditional love. But there are conditions that must be met for the atonement to apply to you. To many this seems like conditional love.

I think the big problem is that a modern definition of love has been so corrupted by the homosexual movement. We used to understand that the consequence of willful wickedness was to no longer be able to have full fellowship with those trying to live a Godly life. This is exactly how Christ operated while on the earth. He would love and reach out to those in sin, but they weren't allowed into the pasture until they committed to live their lives according the the standards of the Good Shepherd.

Now, our leaders actively teach that this separation from the wicked is un-Christlike and un-loving in order to be more palatable to the world on the issue of homosexuality. Elder Cook specifically said this in a video that was posted for years on the church produced mormonsandgays website. So, once again, we have confusion in our midst where once we had clarity. Many now believe the Christ-like thing and the loving thing is to bring the unrepentant wicked into the pasture where they can corrupt the rest of the flock. And we see the results of this "love" throughout the church.

Atrasado
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by Atrasado »

Jamescm wrote: January 13th, 2025, 8:01 am My wife says someone said on a facebook group (You love the distance from the source?) that the Stake Presidency visited her ward yesterday, and sat in on the Relief Society lesson. During a discussion segment, the president began explaining to the women that God's love is, in fact, conditional upon us following the commandments. That is, you no longer have Jesus' love when you stop following the commandments. If you have a testimony that His love is unconditional, then your testimony is of Satan (paraphrased). Her husband then said a member of the stake gave basically the same lesson, and that this is a church-wide change coming from president Nelson. Naturally, there is no stated location in which this occurred.

Neither of us heard any such thing yesterday, and nothing like it came up during the Stake Priesthood meeting we had Saturday. Has anyone else?
That's why God pours his blessings out on the righteous and the wicked, because he doesn't love everyone. /s

That's the doctrine of the devil. He's the one that only loves you if you do what he says. Which is exactly why Rusty Forked Tongue is teaching that doctrine.

jonesde
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by jonesde »

What is the real question behind this for people? What does it mean to you for God to love you, or to not?

For me, some of these come to mind:
1. Is God's justice punitive or restorative?
2. Is God's mercy enslaving or liberating?
3. Is God's judgment condemning or discerning?
4. Is man for the law, or the law for man?

Maybe if we believe that God's ways are higher then no matter what we call it we might all make more loving decisions for, at least, those we say we love.

Juliet
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by Juliet »

Why does this poem come to mind?

One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them.

I don't know about Pres Nelson, but I was told that if I strive to keep the commandments...that is not all... But if I strive to keep the commandments with a true and honest heart....I will experience the blessings of the atonement.

You can't leave that part out. Our intent of our heart makes a huge difference. Like if a child gives you weeds from the yard because they contain flowers....you don't get mad at a child for bringing weeds in the house if he does that...the intent matters.

You know when something brings mental bondage it is the opposite of the spirit of truth. Rigidity, fanaticism, perfectionism...all of these things come from the satanic doctrine of conditional love. That doesn't mean that there isn't some truth to it. If you put salt into a pumpkin pie instead of sugar it will taste bad. Having a good tasting pumpkin pie is conditional upon following the correct Betty Crocker recipe. But we are talking about the power of God's love here. This isn't about pumpkin pie!

I always believed God's love for me is unconditional and it's never harmed me. It has in many ways freed me from what otherwise would bind me into the depths of shame and ... Not good mental places.

If God's love was conditional...could we even have free will? We would all do what is right so we get free cookies from God...rather than valuing the principles required to make good cookies, as we learn how to cook from experience. The whole point of the creation of time is so we could have a chance to do God's will of our own free will. If we obeyed God because we needed conditional love from Him and couldn't get that love without correct behavior...it wouldn't be love anymore. The step that comes before repentance is faith. First believe in that love...that will get you on the path to repentance because when you believe in God's love...His infinite love...there is no shame or pain or condemnation that can keep you forever because you have a chance to repent and get out of whatever eternal state you may be in that is conditional upon repentance in order to change.

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FrankOne
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by FrankOne »

Reluctant Watchman wrote: January 13th, 2025, 8:31 am God's love is unconditional. The degree to which we feel God's love depends upon us. We are the condition.
couldn't be said any better.^ I just wished they would teach it that clearly in church. It's all messed up.

farmerchick
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by farmerchick »

FrankOne wrote: January 15th, 2025, 9:16 pm
Reluctant Watchman wrote: January 13th, 2025, 8:31 am God's love is unconditional. The degree to which we feel God's love depends upon us. We are the condition.
couldn't be said any better.^ I just wished they would teach it that clearly in church. It's all messed up.
I.m with the above crowd.....the condition is up to each of us......I'm reminded once again of the movie "the big Lebowski" and the song ...Just dropped in to see What condition my condition was in?....lol......truth is everywhere and if you really look most can find it.....lol....lsd users or cojcolds practitioners...it makes no difference.....truth is universal....the gospel is so simple that even a child can understand, but yet we have the old agers who can't seem to find the clarity that Jeff bridges as the "dude", brings to the big Lebowski....I'm sure most of you have never seen the movie as it does contain alot of adult Content...however, I believe it's now a classic and has a relevant message in this context....lol....everybody should be pondering what condition their condition is in....? And finding the answer.....prolly without the stranger sipping sasparilla at the bowling alley bar......lol.....

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FrankOne
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by FrankOne »

farmerchick wrote: January 15th, 2025, 10:40 pm
FrankOne wrote: January 15th, 2025, 9:16 pm
Reluctant Watchman wrote: January 13th, 2025, 8:31 am God's love is unconditional. The degree to which we feel God's love depends upon us. We are the condition.
couldn't be said any better.^ I just wished they would teach it that clearly in church. It's all messed up.
I.m with the above crowd.....the condition is up to each of us......I'm reminded once again of the movie "the big Lebowski" and the song ...Just dropped in to see What condition my condition was in?....lol......truth is everywhere and if you really look most can find it.....lol....lsd users or cojcolds practitioners...it makes no difference.....truth is universal....the gospel is so simple that even a child can understand, but yet we have the old agers who can't seem to find the clarity that Jeff bridges as the "dude", brings to the big Lebowski....I'm sure most of you have never seen the movie as it does contain alot of adult Content...however, I believe it's now a classic and has a relevant message in this context....lol....everybody should be pondering what condition their condition is in....? And finding the answer.....prolly without the stranger sipping sasparilla at the bowling alley bar......lol.....
classic movie.

I chose to not watch it for 20+ yrs for reasons I can't remember. I enjoyed it.

As you've said, the gospel is SO simple!

here is as simple as it gets. This song describes the relationship of man to the Christ that I know.

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Rumpelstiltskin
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by Rumpelstiltskin »

Serragon wrote: January 14th, 2025, 4:21 pm
Rumpelstiltskin wrote: January 14th, 2025, 11:27 am I don't think there are conditions on God's love. I love my wayward children despite what they do. However, there are conditions on God's acceptance of us.

D&C 82:10 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.

He loves us, but he will still condemn us for failing to keep his commandments.
I think this is correct.

The atonement is always there for us no matter how far off the path we have wandered. I suppose this could be considered a manifestation of unconditional love. But there are conditions that must be met for the atonement to apply to you. To many this seems like conditional love.

I think the big problem is that a modern definition of love has been so corrupted by the homosexual movement. We used to understand that the consequence of willful wickedness was to no longer be able to have full fellowship with those trying to live a Godly life. This is exactly how Christ operated while on the earth. He would love and reach out to those in sin, but they weren't allowed into the pasture until they committed to live their lives according the the standards of the Good Shepherd.

Now, our leaders actively teach that this separation from the wicked is un-Christlike and un-loving in order to be more palatable to the world on the issue of homosexuality. Elder Cook specifically said this in a video that was posted for years on the church produced mormonsandgays website. So, once again, we have confusion in our midst where once we had clarity. Many now believe the Christ-like thing and the loving thing is to bring the unrepentant wicked into the pasture where they can corrupt the rest of the flock. And we see the results of this "love" throughout the church.
Exactly!

" Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20)

I find it pathetically interesting that the LDS leadership is fulfilling prophecy in so many ways. They mingle philosophy with religion and fulfill Nephi's prophecy of teaching for doctrine the precepts of men. "...They have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men. (2 Nephi 28:14) And like you said, starting with RM Nelson, we must love the sin along with the sinner. No longer are we to stand as witnesses for God at all times and in all places.

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Mindfields
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by Mindfields »

Serragon wrote: January 14th, 2025, 4:21 pm
Rumpelstiltskin wrote: January 14th, 2025, 11:27 am I don't think there are conditions on God's love. I love my wayward children despite what they do. However, there are conditions on God's acceptance of us.

D&C 82:10 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.

He loves us, but he will still condemn us for failing to keep his commandments.
I think this is correct.

The atonement is always there for us no matter how far off the path we have wandered. I suppose this could be considered a manifestation of unconditional love. But there are conditions that must be met for the atonement to apply to you. To many this seems like conditional love.

I think the big problem is that a modern definition of love has been so corrupted by the homosexual movement. We used to understand that the consequence of willful wickedness was to no longer be able to have full fellowship with those trying to live a Godly life. This is exactly how Christ operated while on the earth. He would love and reach out to those in sin, but they weren't allowed into the pasture until they committed to live their lives according the the standards of the Good Shepherd.

Now, our leaders actively teach that this separation from the wicked is un-Christlike and un-loving in order to be more palatable to the world on the issue of homosexuality. Elder Cook specifically said this in a video that was posted for years on the church produced mormonsandgays website. So, once again, we have confusion in our midst where once we had clarity. Many now believe the Christ-like thing and the loving thing is to bring the unrepentant wicked into the pasture where they can corrupt the rest of the flock. And we see the results of this "love" throughout the church.
The atonement is always there for us no matter how far off the path we have wandered.

You should have left it at that.

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LateOutOfBed
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by LateOutOfBed »

Reluctant Watchman wrote: January 13th, 2025, 8:31 am God's love is unconditional. The degree to which we feel God's love depends upon us. We are the condition.
This is an interesting thought to me... I agree with the first statement and the last, but not so sure about the middle. I say this, because I'm trying harder than ever to come closer to him, yet right now I struggle with feeling his love for me. I know it's there, I know it's unconditional, but doesn't mean for all of us it's that cut and dry to "feel it".

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Reluctant Watchman
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by Reluctant Watchman »

LateOutOfBed wrote: January 17th, 2025, 9:38 am
Reluctant Watchman wrote: January 13th, 2025, 8:31 am God's love is unconditional. The degree to which we feel God's love depends upon us. We are the condition.
This is an interesting thought to me... I agree with the first statement and the last, but not so sure about the middle. I say this, because I'm trying harder than ever to come closer to him, yet right now I struggle with feeling his love for me. I know it's there, I know it's unconditional, but doesn't mean for all of us it's that cut and dry to "feel it".
Those are great thoughts to ponder on. I think it's worth contemplating how we feel God's love. I thank God for all things experienced in this mortal sphere, the good and the difficult. I find God's love in feeling opposition, or what I call "duality." I feel God's love when I am blessed to petition forgiveness for another. I feel God's love when I take slow intentional breaths, and when I'm breathless from a workout. Everything we experience in this life is a gift from God. Now, not all energies (intentions) come from God, but just the fact that we get to experience it all is such a blessing. No trial will ever be left to itself, to drag us down, if we choose to learn from it.
Last edited by Reluctant Watchman on January 17th, 2025, 10:32 am, edited 1 time in total.

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John Tavner
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by John Tavner »

LateOutOfBed wrote: January 17th, 2025, 9:38 am
Reluctant Watchman wrote: January 13th, 2025, 8:31 am God's love is unconditional. The degree to which we feel God's love depends upon us. We are the condition.
This is an interesting thought to me... I agree with the first statement and the last, but not so sure about the middle. I say this, because I'm trying harder than ever to come closer to him, yet right now I struggle with feeling his love for me. I know it's there, I know it's unconditional, but doesn't mean for all of us it's that cut and dry to "feel it".
Striving to feel God's love is a losing game- and I don't mean that cynically. I mean that if we are always seeking validation through feeling we will become lost. Faith is what saves- trust that He loves us. His love is there whether or not we "feel" it or not. There will be moments or even days when you feel the overwhelming love of God and it isn't expected, but trusting that He loves you regardless of the feeling is how we overcome all things and the "feeling" will come during those stages.

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LateOutOfBed
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by LateOutOfBed »

John Tavner wrote: January 17th, 2025, 10:08 am
LateOutOfBed wrote: January 17th, 2025, 9:38 am
Reluctant Watchman wrote: January 13th, 2025, 8:31 am God's love is unconditional. The degree to which we feel God's love depends upon us. We are the condition.
This is an interesting thought to me... I agree with the first statement and the last, but not so sure about the middle. I say this, because I'm trying harder than ever to come closer to him, yet right now I struggle with feeling his love for me. I know it's there, I know it's unconditional, but doesn't mean for all of us it's that cut and dry to "feel it".
Striving to feel God's love is a losing game- and I don't mean that cynically. I mean that if we are always seeking validation through feeling we will become lost. Faith is what saves- trust that He loves us. His love is there whether or not we "feel" it or not. There will be moments or even days when you feel the overwhelming love of God and it isn't expected, but trusting that He loves you regardless of the feeling is how we overcome all things and the "feeling" will come during those stages.
I agree, and I try not to get overly focused on "feeling" His love and receiving validation as you state it. I'm not overly concerned to be honest. I know He loves me, I know He cares. I figure He'll give me what I need when I need it. There's so many things that have happened in my life that I know those things, it's impossible for me to deny. But I'm also the type that has struggled with "feeling" others "feelings" as it is anyways. I.e. I KNOW my wife loves me, I see it through her actions, but I don't "feel" that she loves me (if that makes any sense, and we've been married for 28.5 years). But I don't worry about that, I figure it's just how I function. So, when a statement is made like RW did about the degree we "feel" His love, I think he's right that we're the condition, but for some of us that recognition or "feeling" of how others feel about us doesn't come all that naturally. To me that's okay.

Instead I've been focusing to try to understand how to love like He does, mirror the things He's done for me for those I'm around. Sometimes it's doing simple things like scraping my kids' car windows because I leave a few minutes before them. Sometimes it's even just appreciating the ways He's shown me his love and sharing that with others. Perhaps that's silly, but it's how I'm approaching it.

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Reluctant Watchman
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by Reluctant Watchman »

Maybe it has a lot to do with the acknowledgment of God's active participation in our mortal and eternal journey. There's also an interesting relationship between giving love to others and our capacity to receive love. Christ's atonement and sacrifice are worth contemplating in this regard.

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John Tavner
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by John Tavner »

LateOutOfBed wrote: January 17th, 2025, 10:45 am
John Tavner wrote: January 17th, 2025, 10:08 am
LateOutOfBed wrote: January 17th, 2025, 9:38 am

This is an interesting thought to me... I agree with the first statement and the last, but not so sure about the middle. I say this, because I'm trying harder than ever to come closer to him, yet right now I struggle with feeling his love for me. I know it's there, I know it's unconditional, but doesn't mean for all of us it's that cut and dry to "feel it".
Striving to feel God's love is a losing game- and I don't mean that cynically. I mean that if we are always seeking validation through feeling we will become lost. Faith is what saves- trust that He loves us. His love is there whether or not we "feel" it or not. There will be moments or even days when you feel the overwhelming love of God and it isn't expected, but trusting that He loves you regardless of the feeling is how we overcome all things and the "feeling" will come during those stages.
I agree, and I try not to get overly focused on "feeling" His love and receiving validation as you state it. I'm not overly concerned to be honest. I know He loves me, I know He cares. I figure He'll give me what I need when I need it. There's so many things that have happened in my life that I know those things, it's impossible for me to deny. But I'm also the type that has struggled with "feeling" others "feelings" as it is anyways. I.e. I KNOW my wife loves me, I see it through her actions, but I don't "feel" that she loves me (if that makes any sense, and we've been married for 28.5 years). But I don't worry about that, I figure it's just how I function. So, when a statement is made like RW did about the degree we "feel" His love, I think he's right that we're the condition, but for some of us that recognition or "feeling" of how others feel about us doesn't come all that naturally. To me that's okay.

Instead I've been focusing to try to understand how to love like He does, mirror the things He's done for me for those I'm around. Sometimes it's doing simple things like scraping my kids' car windows because I leave a few minutes before them. Sometimes it's even just appreciating the ways He's shown me his love and sharing that with others. Perhaps that's silly, but it's how I'm approaching it.
I think those are good things you're doing and I believe those are demonstrations of love. RW and I have disagreed in the past on the need to "feel." The only way I've learned to grow in His love is to trust in the actions of the Lord for us through Jesus Christ in hte same way you are with your wife- and asking for His grace to transform me so I become love. John tells us that the only way to love is through knowledge of God- doesn't mean seeing Him, but it is through communicating and trusting in His love and mercy and grace and "lovingkindness" towards us, knowing He truly does want what is best for us and will grow us up into Him as we believe and this changes us as we rely on Him working in us.

I don't do those things because I want to "feel" anything but because I want to be what HE wants me to be, to become what He paid for...

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Reluctant Watchman
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by Reluctant Watchman »

Maybe I'm just wired differently, but I "feel" God's love all the time... or maybe I'm just grateful for all that God does for me. I'm sure there's a correlation.

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John Tavner
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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by John Tavner »

Reluctant Watchman wrote: January 17th, 2025, 11:15 am Maybe I'm just wired differently, but I "feel" God's love all the time... or maybe I'm just grateful for all that God does for me. I'm sure there's a correlation.
Absolutely gratitude can cause one feel the love of God, but you aren't grateful in order to feel His love, you are just grateful- there are weeks when I'm grateful, but I don't "feel" His love and weeks when I'm grateful and "feel" His love tremendously and other times I'm grateful and feel His love intermittently. The gratitude comes from me knowing God's love for me through HIs Son and remaining in that sphere regardless of how I feel.

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Re: Divine love conditional?

Post by Reluctant Watchman »

John Tavner wrote: January 17th, 2025, 12:09 pm
Reluctant Watchman wrote: January 17th, 2025, 11:15 am Maybe I'm just wired differently, but I "feel" God's love all the time... or maybe I'm just grateful for all that God does for me. I'm sure there's a correlation.
Absolutely gratitude can cause one feel the love of God, but you aren't grateful in order to feel His love, you are just grateful- there are weeks when I'm grateful, but I don't "feel" His love and weeks when I'm grateful and "feel" His love tremendously and other times I'm grateful and feel His love intermittently. The gratitude comes from me knowing God's love for me through HIs Son and remaining in that sphere regardless of how I feel.
When I express my gratitude for God, I feel God's love. That's just how I'm wired. And that's just one facet of God's love. As you've mentioned, God's love is always present. I would even say in all things.

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