“UNCONDITIONAL LOVE” (pt. 2 of 3)

        There is more to say about unconditional love. While actually having this love is very difficult, it is not impossible. 

        Consider the husband whose comatose wife lies unresponsive in her bed. While a stroke has rendered her helpless in mind and body, he has now become her mind and body. Daily he cares for her needs and makes all her decisions. 

        Or the wife whose barely responsive husband is in the nursing home, yet she comes every day to feed him, help clothe him and give him words of love and encouragement. 

         Or the parents whose child is born without a full brain and yet they watch over that child’s every need, medically and personally, as if the child understands, although it cannot. We’ve all known of such people and perhaps have been part of the life of one who will never be able to live independently of us.

        The Bible says, “In this is love, not that we love God, but that He loved us and gave His Son as the means of our forgiveness.” (1 John 4:10) This is the source of any human capacity to show unconditional love. God loved us and gave us the powerful gift to love others. 

        The apostle continued in his letter, “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) Is not His love the source of any unconditional love? God showed us the way, and His Holy Spirit gives us the power. He will not fail us.

Lord, help us love unconditionally, as You love us.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

(Next week - “UNCONDITIONAL LOVE” (pt. 3 of 3)

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE (pt. 1 of 3)

        We hear a lot about “unconditional love” these days, but I’m not sure most people realize what that term means. “Unconditional love” means loving or having affection for a person without any limits or conditions. 

          An example might be a parent’s love for a child. No matter if the child’s test score is disappointing, his decision is disagreeable, her argument is irrational, or his strong belief is dangerous, the amount of love from the parent is unchanging and thus unconditional.

        Have you ever tried to love someone this way? Is there someone to whom you are so devoted? Is it not possible that our loved one can still do or say something that breaks the unconditional nature of our love? 

        Of course there is. Trust is not infinite. Human disappointment is not without limits. Only God in His divine and infinite power can have true unconditional love for a sinful human being. Only He can withstand the sadness and disappointment that can arise in a relationship.

        Consider Jesus’ love: “He was wounded for our sins, He was bruised for our evil deeds. He endured the penalties we deserved, and with His punishment we are healed. We all like sheep have gone our own way, but God has placed on Him the sins of us all.” (Isaiah 53:5) 

        People will have their limits on love, but God doesn’t. He cares for us, no matter what.

Lord Jesus, how can You love us sinful people? Thank You!

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

(Next week - “UNCONDITIONAL LOVE” (pt. 2 of 3)

EVER BEEN CONNED?

       Have you ever been “conned,” swindled by someone, and it cost you lots of money? I once sent funds through Western Union to buy a laptop. Money and laptop were both gone!

        George C. Parker was an American con man best known for his successful attempts to “sell” the Brooklyn Bridge. For awhile he made his living conducting illegal sales of property he didn’t own, such as Grant’s Tomb, Madison Square Garden and the Statue of Liberty. 
        Parker sold them to unwary immigrants saying they could have control to collect entrance fees or tolls. Parker “sold” the Brooklyn Bridge several times until he was finally convicted of fraud and sentenced to life in prison.

         Some people have tried to prove that Jesus was a con man, fooling people for the past twenty centuries. But He had nothing to gain from it. For all He did, Jesus received nothing for Himself except crucifixion. 

        But we did. Isaiah says, “He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; His chastisement brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) Jesus’ work on earth gave Him death, but it gave eternal life to all who believe in Him.

        God doesn’t con people. He doesn’t have to, because what He gives us can be gotten from no one else. Jesus gives eternal life with God for all who trust Him. That’s a gift we can count on!

Lord Jesus, help us trust You for all that is good.

Rev.Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

PEOPLE ARE ALL DIFFERENT!

(Taken from my newest devotional, EVERY DAY WITH JESUS, coming this summer)

        God loves all people, but it’s not always easy for us to love each other. Differing opinions, personalities and even appearances may make us think less of others. We must learn to look past our pride to see the value of all God’s people.

        I was in the WalMart store on a Friday afternoon. Being the end of the week and the end of the month, this normally busy store was packed. Checkout lines were long, carts hard to find, children were fussing and tempers were getting short. Knowing checkout would take awhile, I took my place in line and spent my time watching the people around me. 

        They were all different, those in front of me, on the side, and those behind. Whether old or young, tall or short, heavy or thin, well dressed or sloppy, pretty or plain, no one looked the same. All were different. No two were alike.

        It occurred to me that God loves all these people, myself included. No matter who they are or where, God loves all people of the world, all seven billion of us! How can He do it? Jesus said, “God even knows the number of hairs of your head.” (Matthew 10:30 PBV) 

        But how? How can He hear our prayers, help us with our needs, or put up with those who ignore Him? Jesus assures us, “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but shall have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Amazing!

        I have no idea how God can love all these people. I couldn’t do it, but He can. How can we not praise Him for His great mercy? Next time you’re waiting in line, look at the people around you. God loves them, too, with an everlasting love.

Lord, help us love people with Your love. 

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

BEING A DETERMINED PERSON

        A television news report on the problems refugees face told of a family hoping to return to their war-town country. The ten year-old daughter was featured who showed a determination rarely seen in one so young. She said, “When we go back, I’m going to visit my neighbors, and I’m going to play with my friends. My father says we don’t have a house there any more, but I told him, we will find one and fix it up to live in.”

        Some might think the girl is living a fantasy, and perhaps she is. But she had a goal, to return to her country and make a home there again. There is a place for determination and tenacity. When our faith is rooted in Jesus Christ and His love for us, we can do amazing things.
        Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi were widows living in Moab, Ruth's country. When Naomi decided  to go back to Judea, she told her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab and find new husbands. Orpah, Naomi’s other daughter-in-law, stayed behind, but Ruth refused to leave Naomi. She said, “Don’t ask me to leave you. Where you go, I will go, and I will live with you and your people.” (Ruth 1:16 PBV)
        Naomi was also a determined woman. Back home in Bethlehem, she told Ruth to find a relative named Boaz and glean grain in his field so they’d have food. Ruth did that and God blessed Ruth and Naomi when Ruth become Boaz’ wife. Their descendants include King David and Jesus of Nazareth. When we trust in our Lord, even the most difficult situations can become a blessing.

Thank You, God, for giving hope to Your people.
Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

RESURRECTION CHANGES EVERYTHING!

      An agnostic and a Christian were debating the central Christian belief that Jesus actually arose from the dead. As their debate drew to a close, the agnostic gave a lengthy summary of reasons he believed proved his case. He ended, “So, you can see Jesus could not have come back to life after being dead more than two days.”

      Rather than presenting a lengthy refutation, the Christian simply asked, “What if you are wrong? What if Jesus really did come back to life? What then?” The agnostic hesitated and said, “Well, I guess that changes everything!” How true! The resurrection does change everything! It proves Jesus is who He said He was.

      To some doubters in Corinth, Paul wrote, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins…and we are of all people are to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, so by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.” (1 Corinthians 15:17-2

       The resurrection changes everything. After contradicting both Jewish leaders and Pilate, Jesus had signed his own death warrant on the cross. But His resurrection changed everything.

        If you’ve ever wondered about the resurrection, consider how Jesus’ returning to life has changed humanity, history, and even yourself. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Lord, help us know that Your resurrection is true.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

KEEP YOUR HEAD UP!

        When friends visited us this winter, we took them to watch parachute jumping at nearby Eloy, AZ.  We were not able to see the normal dozens of jumpers light up the sky due to heavy cloud cover and FAA regs that prohibit them parachuting through clouds. A few sky jumpers did open their chutes below the clouds, so it was still fun and colorful to see. But most sky jumpers came there wanting to jump out at 13,000 feet, and then freely fall 8,000 or more feet before opening their chutes and landing in front of spectators. 

        After lunch at the Bent Prop Cafe, we decided to check out Sky Venture Arizona, a building nearby which has a huge vertical wind tunnel in which people can experience simulated skydiving. It’s a place for the young and strong to don their colorful suits and go into the wind tunnel to practice, while the older and wiser folks (us) watch to see how it is done. 

        Two to four people move into the 120 mph wind tunnel, flying up and down, left and right, flipping over or even “sitting on air” as they learned their moves. They were practicing movements needed to control their body during a freefall before the parachute is opened. First and foremost they were taught always to keep their heads up and backs arched, relying on hand or leg movements to propel themselves this way and that. Turning a hand or head, or lifting a leg or an arm would send them in a new direction. 

        As I watched, it occurred to me our everyday lives are often the same. We are easily buffeted by social currents and may live at the mercy of unfortunate events. Minor choices that can result in major changes. Poor choices, accidents, or the actions of others can alter our life in significant, even permanent ways. We must learn to recognize which decisions are helpful and which are not, as well as how to react to them. 

        Jesus helps us see what is most important in life. He wants us to look to Him for direction as we live our lives. He said, “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (Matthew 5:16) We need to heed God’s Word which will help us go the right direction, as well as have the right faith in our hearts. Above all, give thanks that Jesus is ready, willing and able to forgive us the evil we do and the good we fail to do. 

Keeping our heads up and looking to Jesus will show us the right path.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com