Just concluded the 3rd bible study at church on Galatians. It was about living life by grace or by law. Dug the Pharisee out of me, and of course got me thinking about God's unconditional love through grace.
If one sticks with a businessman of love long enough, one gets influenced to think of love like a business. What is in it for me? Is it fair? Do I get back something? How much do I get back? What are the returns of we merge and synergise? What do I want to see in you? Do you fulfil my ideal?
So it is quite a reminder when I reflect if I saw our relationship like a business deal. It was fairly unthinkable to not have to behave a certain way, follow a prescribed manner, get an endorsement from an upright peer, in order to qualify for God's love and blessings. Too easy.
God's love almost look too cheap. In today's world, cheap things don't last. We heard of easy come, easy go. I sometimes find its ubiquitous nature almost unattractive.
Now when I reflect, I have newfound respect on this ubiquitous unconditional love. It is not easy for someone to love all the time without having an expectation or wanting appreciation. Just the other day, I scoffed at the lyrics of some of these teenage songs my friend's daughter was showing me. The 'I-love-you-no-matter-what', the 'we are in this together', 'I want to do everything for you' lyrics were resoundingly ridiculous! I attributed it to the shallow aspect of young love.
If God penned such lyrics in a love song for me, would I roll my eyes? Would I rather return his love with some good works and pious behaviour so I can at least say I deserve it?
Since I belong to the school of thought that God is not Santa Claus here to serve my purpose, I may be equally guilty in thinking that I can ask for things in pious pretext that I am seeking his will, doing his works and behaving like a good Christian.
So rightly Paul chided the Galatians "Are you so foolish? After beginning by the means of the Spirit, are you trying to finish by means of the flesh'.
I must say I still need to get my head around with His unconditional love.
