Unconditional Love / Conditional Love

We know God's love / forgiveness to be unconditional explained by Romans 6:23. Unconditional love means love with NO limit within forgiveness. 

If anyone hurt you but you forgave him/her, it means you are loving that person unconditionally. Conditional means limited. If you do not forgive whoever did wrong thing to you, it means you are not loving that person unconditionally. God loved you so much so He sent his son Jesus Christ to earth to pay our sin debt when he died on the cross to have all of our sins forgiven so we would never have to face penalty by going to hell as John 3:16 explained.

"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." 
(John 3:16)

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

However if you ever happen to read Matthew 6:15, you might be having difficult time understanding God's unconditional love.

"But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:15)

This causes difficulty in my understanding on Romans 6:23 too. I would say this doesn't verify the fact God's forgiveness is unconditional... but that was until when I read Psalm 66:18:

"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me" (Psalm 66:18)

I understood so much better. (iniquity = sin) Psalm 66:18 explains that if there is specific sin you hid in your heart and you haven't confessed that to the Lord yet or disagree that specific sin you committed is SIN, that means you are calling God a liar when His Word says:

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)

Because unforgiveness is SIN. If you refuse to forgive, that means you are not agreeing that unforgiveness is sin. When you refuse to forgive after a long period of time WITHOUT reconciling (problems solved / forgiven) with a wrongdoer, your heart eventually becomes harden in a process, and that possibly prevents God from hearing your prayer when you attempt to reach out to Him as Psalm 66:18 explained. He cannot hear you when your heart is blocked by sin which you refuse to confess.

"If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:10)

In order to accept the salvation of Jesus Christ as God's personal gift, you must admit that you are sinner in need of a Savior. (Romans 6:23) When you become saved, you will begin to have the fruit of Spirit. Forgiveness is one of the most important virtues that demonstrate the fruit of Spirit in your heart. Refusing to forgive will only hinder your prayers with God. So you are required to make efforts to be like Jesus by being forgiving.

Seek God's Wisdom!

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Hosea 4:6)

Take extra caution whenever you enjoy things in the world such as TV shows, movies, music, books, etc. Not all of them glorify God. Some of them can be considered moral decays, dangerous for slowly stripping our biblical principles from us like flesh-eating bacteria / virus.

-TV shows and movies can teach good morals but often ignore the importance of the Salvation Jesus Christ offers for all of us. 

-Music can heal but often ignore the fact that God can heal us and that he is our true counselor.

-Books can teach us many perspectives on humanity but often ignore God's Word that can only teach us prudence (means careful management or a sensible and careful attitude that makes you avoid unnecessary risks), and wisdom.

So be cautious whenever you enjoy all entertainment types in the world. We can also take pleasure in all the kind of cultures but some of today's cultures will continue to evolve until they reach the point where people will forget about God and His Word. Imagine how dangerous that can be.

I found interesting acronym on the Internet, B -I -B -L - E and it was mentioned that it stands for (B)asic (I)nstruction (B)efore (L)eaving (E)arth. Interesting thought! It is true that we must be completely dependent on KJV Bible that can only teach us God's Ways because our lives are extremely fragile without God's Word and prayer.

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Joshua 1:8)

Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature

Hebrews 5:12
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Some of us are not certified to be a pastor or preacher but the bible says we are commanded to teach the gospel (Jesus' offering Salvation) to every person. 

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
(Mark 16:15) 

- If you have enough Bible knowledge to lead a bible study then lead one in your own church! or in your home.
- Help revive ministry in other churches if they are not strong enough
- If you go to mall a lot, be sure to give a tract to strangers.
- If you are a college student living in a dorm, leave a tract in the bathrooms / restrooms.
- Leave a tract on the table before you left out of a restaurant / diner.

- If you couldn't go anywhere without a ride, try to share the gospel in public chatrooms / online forum, (be careful not to cuss or participate in inappropriate topics.) Note: Christian chatrooms on the other sites are always filled with hate, dirty talk, so be on your guard. More importantly, protect yourself, don't give your address or text number.

if there's anyone in the public chatrooms that want to know more about God, be prepared to give the resources to study God's word and help them find a nearby church.

Apple of the Eye

The English idiom / phrase, "Apple of the eye" came from the Bible (Deuteronomy 32:10, Psalms 17:8, Proverbs 7:2, Lamentations 2:18, Zechariah 2:8)

It means something or somebody you deeply cherish. For example, "my friend's daughter is the apple of his eye" means his daughter is very, very precious to him. 

Another example...."After adopting a new dog, she eventually became the apple of her eye. She fell in love with her new pet. She walks her dog every day and they always play together."

There's a good verse from the bible that uses the English idiom:

Proverbs 7:2 (KJV)  

Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

This scripture teaches that when Jesus sacrificed himself for us, all of our sins are forgiven, it does not mean we can sin freely as we want to. We are commanded to keep the Lord's commandments and cherish them completely as if His Word is our only treasure then we will live well. It might be impossible NOT to break his commandments but if we continue to practice God's principles, our fruit of the spirit will grow and stay strong, then we will be more blessed through our relationship with God.

Ask yourselves: Have you analyzed your relationship with God? He deeply cares for us because we are the apple of his eye.

1 John 4:9 (KJV) 

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Pride Goes Before A Fall

It is good for us to have pride in ourselves.. but we must always be careful with it and remember to be humble all the time because "Pride goes before a fall." 

(This quote originates from the KJV Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall)

I've personally witnessed the destruction of my own pride many times before by letting myself be overconfident and blinded myself from my own flaws or mistakes that I was too stubborn to accept then end up experiencing humiliation as the result of pride. This will be and always have been the reminder to me for the rest of my life. 

Whenever there's too much pride, there's destruction. (will pinch you out of nowhere.)

There is nothing wrong with being confident, as long as we remember to be humble ALL THE TIME.. our own productivity will be rewarded with "Can-Do" attitude.

Hebrews 10:35
"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward."

Chastisement / Discipline and Spiritual Health

We must grow within chastisement and discipline

James 4:8-10
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

If God truly loves us, then He will ensure that we mature through chastisement (punishment) and discipline. Without the chastisement, we cannot be truly children of God! We must endure His chastisement that will allow us to strengthen ourselves and have a sharp mind, not doubled-mind as we would not be two-faced to another in real life.  

Hebrews 12:6

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Colossians 3:22-24

22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

2 Timothy 2:20-22

20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Our spiritual diet is also important as our physical health would be to longevity (life expectancy)

Deuteronomy 8:2-32 And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.3And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.

"God's Word is just as important to spiritual life as food is to physical life. Just as one must discipline himself to provide and eat physical food, so must one exercise discipline to seek and ingest spiritual food. If one will not do this, then, just as physical health will decline without adequate food, a person's inadequate spiritual diet will lead to spiritual disease. At the very least, one's quality of life will be severely compromised." (Reference taken from "Spiritual Food" by John W. Ritenbaugh)

We must be strict with how we eat for the sake of our health if living longer is our desire. This also illustrates with our spiritual health...we must consume God's Word daily that will enable us to have a strong relationship with God which is a truly Christian's lifestyle. Reading the scriptures every day will not only allow us to strongly bond with God but also helps protect ourselves from any sinful habit that we may possess eventually in life. 

1 Chronicles 22:13 KJV

"Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the Lord charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed."

In addition to best health, I also wish to emphasize that if you feel that you may have depression or any issue that appears to disturb your mental health, it is best advised that you seek a therapist (who is also a believer.) Your spiritual health is important to God as your physical health would be. It is the top priority that we be fully abled-bodied in every way so we can best serve the LORD. 

Ideal Church

In addition to churches worshiping the Lord, no believer should ever alienate the others within a church but always welcome with such warm compassion and kindness. Make a note to yourself that every believer's journey is constantly challenged with endless trials and tests on Earth, which is why every church should always be overfilled with such encouragement without single drop of discouragement and judgement. That's darkness - judgement and discouragement. Be sure to support each other fully.

1 Thessalonians 5:11
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

This will help keep the newly believers of ALL ages from losing their faith, whether a believer is old or not, especially if a longtime believer's faith is shaken. The church isn't a place to judge but support and love each other wholeheartedly. The LORD God is the one we do our best to impress with our spiritual dress shining unto Him all the time. We may make mistakes or have difficulty dealing with being hypocrite, but we must understand...we do have our own moments where we are knocked down...this is why we must be dedicated to have each other's back as brothers and sisters...

Although church attendance is important for our spiritual growth, don't consider it just one of chores but a blessing. We go there to learn God's Word then APPLY it to our daily life and share with the others. Blessings and knowledge that we inherited, are meant to be shared with everyone. Did it ever come to you that when you place your faith in the LORD and accept Jesus as a true Savior, that you immediately become a missionary who must share the truth with the others about Jesus?

Yes, it's true! It doesn't take a real missionary to go outside the country and travel but on the streets or anywhere, in your own communities. Let the others know about it.

Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me...

2 Timothy 3:16–17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.