The Unconditional Love Of God | Victoria Osteen

Summary

Joel Osteen Podcast: "The Unconditional Love Of God" | Victoria Osteen
Release Date: January 11, 2025

In this episode of the Joel Osteen Podcast, Victoria Osteen shares a deeply personal and transformative story that underscores the profound message of God's unconditional love. The discussion delves into themes of forgiveness, faith, and the relentless compassion that God extends to each individual, regardless of their past mistakes.

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1. Listener's Story: A Lesson in Unconditional Love

Timestamp: [01:48]

Victoria Osteen begins the episode by recounting a poignant memory from her youth. At 16 years old, she recounts an incident where she inadvertently shattered her father's car window. Tasked with running errands, Victoria impulsively decides to divert the trip to pick up her best friend, leading to the broken window. Confronted by her father's disappointment, she bravely confesses her mistake, expecting reprimand.

Notable Quote:
"I shattered your window. Please forgive me."
— Victoria Osteen [04:35]

Despite her fears, Victoria describes her father's response as one of compassion and unconditional love. Instead of berating her, her father looked past her mistake, embodying the very essence of unconditional love.

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2. Reflection on Fatherly Compassion and Divine Love

Timestamp: [05:00]

Joel Osteen reflects on Victoria's story, drawing parallels between human forgiveness and the boundless love of the Heavenly Father. He emphasizes that if an earthly father can overlook his child's mistakes with such grace, imagine the infinite compassion God holds for each of us.

Notable Quote:
"He didn't berate me, he didn't tell me how terrible I was. Somehow he found it in himself to look over my faults and show me his love."
— Victoria Osteen [07:15]

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3. Embracing God's Unconditional Love

Timestamp: [07:20]

Building upon the listener's narrative, Joel delves deeper into the theological implications of unconditional love. He reassures listeners that God perceives them not through the lens of their failures but through His unwavering love and acceptance.

Notable Quotes:
"The scripture says when we were yet sinners, before we even knew what was right and what was wrong, he looked down through the corridors of time and said, I love you unconditionally."
— Victoria Osteen [07:45]

"Your heavenly Father is not looking at what you're doing wrong. He's looking at what you're doing right. He sees your two good moves."
— Joel Osteen [07:55]

Joel encourages listeners to seek forgiveness boldly, emphasizing that God's grace is ever-present and that He delights in granting mercy to those who earnestly seek it.

Notable Quote:
"God says, come boldly before the throne of grace so you can obtain mercy and find help in your time of need."
— Joel Osteen [08:30]

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4. Practical Steps to Embrace Forgiveness and Move Forward

Timestamp: [08:35]

Joel outlines actionable steps for listeners to internalize and live out God's unconditional love:

1. Ask for Forgiveness: Approach God with honesty about your mistakes and seek His mercy.
2. Receive Forgiveness: Believe in God's capacity to forgive and let go of lingering guilt.
3. Forgive Yourself: Release self-condemnation to fully embrace God's love.
4. Maintain a Relationship: Continuously nurture your relationship with God through faith and trust.

He underscores the importance of not allowing guilt or shame to hinder one's relationship with God, reminding listeners that His love is steadfast and forgiving.

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5. Encouragement and Moving Forward

Timestamp: [09:00]

Victoria and Joel conclude the episode by encouraging listeners to embrace the new year as an opportunity for renewal. They highlight the importance of letting go of past struggles and stepping into a season of newfound blessings and faith.

Notable Quote:
"It's a new year. Time to forget the struggles of the past and make room for new blessings."
— Victoria Osteen [09:07]

Joel further emphasizes starting each day with faith and gratitude, setting a positive tone for a victorious year ahead.

---

Conclusion

This episode of the Joel Osteen Podcast delivers a powerful message about the nature of God's unconditional love. Through Victoria Osteen's heartfelt story and Joel Osteen's reflective insights, listeners are reminded of the limitless grace and compassion that God offers. The episode serves as an encouraging guide for anyone seeking to understand and embrace the depth of divine love, urging them to move forward with faith, forgiveness, and renewed hope.

Transcript

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[Listener]

Yeah.

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[Joel Osteen]

Hi, this is Joel in Victoria. Thanks so much for listening to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We believe you're going to have an awesome 2024 healthy, productive and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message.

[Listener]

I'll never forget one Saturday afternoon when I was 16 years old, I walked in the kitchen and my father was grilling hamburgers that Saturday afternoon. I was like, yeah, I'm hungry, dad. He said, great. He said, can you run to the store for me and pick up a few little items? I just need some mustard, some pickles, just a couple little items. I said, absolutely. I mean, I was 16 years old just waiting to get behind the wheel, any excuse to drive. And I was right there. So he went to give me his keys and as he was giving me the keys, he Said, now look, Victoria, he said, I want you to go straight to the grocery store. I want you to come straight back and don't open the passenger side window, don't roll it down because it's off the tracks. And he said, I have to get it repaired next week, so don't open the window. I took the keys from his hand and I rushed out the back door, jumped in the car, cranked it up, drove down the street to my best girlfriend's house and picked her up. I said, we're going to the grocery store. As we were on our way to the grocery store, about to leave the neighborhood, we saw some of our friends who lived in the neighborhood walking down the sidewalk. So we started waving. I said, let's pull over so they can see us driving. So we pull over. I said, roll down the window so we can say hi. She looks at me and she says, I thought you said the window was broken. I said, it's okay, it'll be fine this time. This one time won't hurt anything. So she rolls the window down and we talk to our friends. And I'll never forget, as I was driving off, she was rolling that window back up and it was as if time stood still. That window shattered in 1 million pieces. I looked at that window, I couldn't believe it. Millions of pieces. I looked at my girlfriend. I said, you're going home with me. Listen, I'll never forget driving that car home, thinking, what am I going to tell my father? Drove up the driveway, walked in the back door, and there he stood in the kitchen with the biggest knot in my throat. I said, dad, I got to tell you something. I did everything you told me not to do. I said, dad, I shattered your window. Please forgive me. I couldn't believe what I had done. But you know, that Saturday afternoon as a 16 year old girl. And I'll never forget my dad's response to me. As I looked at my father and he looked back at me and I'm sure he was disappointed. He looked at me with eyes of compassion. It was as if he looked past my failure, past my mistake. Somehow he saw a daughter on a journey and he showed me unconditional love that day. He didn't berate me, he didn't tell me how terrible I was. Somehow he found it in himself to look over my faults and show me his love. Can I tell you if an earthly father can do such a thing, how much more does our Heavenly Father look at us today through eyes of compassion and love? So often we feel like he's looking at our mistakes, counting our failures against us. But can I tell you? The scripture says when we were yet sinners, before we even knew what was right and what was wrong, he looked down through the corridors of time and. And he said, I love you unconditionally. That is the heart of the Father. Now, your story might not be the same with your earthly father. I don't know. But I can tell you it has helped me understand the love of my heavenly Father. You see, that day, I had to do something. I had to admit what I did. And then I had to ask for forgiveness. Then I took it one step further. I had to receive his forgiveness. Because, see, it was up to me. At that point, was I going to make a decision that my father loved me and that he indeed forgave me? And I could shake off the shame, shake off the guilt, because, see, there was something real important that I needed to do. I needed to have a relationship with this father in my life. And if I was going to draw back and not feel like I was good enough, I would have never come and asked him for the keys again. But guess what I did. I asked him for the keys again, and he gave them to me. I'm saying all that to say some of you have shrunk back. You're not asking God for the keys again. You're saying, he couldn't possibly want that for me. How could I possibly achieve that? Man, I make a mistake all the time. I can't get to where God wants me to be. If I even ask him, will he even hear me? Can I tell you, your heavenly Father is not looking at what you're doing wrong. He's looking at what you're doing right. He sees your two good moves. Yeah, you may have blown it. You may have even blown it yesterday. But can I tell you, when you come and you say, God forgive me, he sees us as a work in progress. We are sons and daughters in progress. And he's not holding that against us. See, I gotta tell you something. When I asked my dad for the keys again, he didn't say to me, well, don't forget what you did. Don't forget how you wronged me. He didn't come at me with guilt and condemnation. And I want to remind you today, if you're not asking for the keys because you feel guilty, maybe a little ashamed, maybe you can't even believe God would do that, that is not of God. That is the accuser. And those are the things you're going to have to shake off and make a decision today. When I ask God for forgiveness, he freely forgives me. He pardons me. Luke 12 says he takes great pleasure in giving you the kingdom. That tells me he's got some keys for you today. You got to ask him, don't walk timid before God. He likes boldness. He likes tenacity. Listen, God says, come boldly before the throne of grace so you can obtain mercy and find help in your time of need. See, there's the key right there. You gotta be bold, you gotta ask for forgiveness, you gotta receive it, you gotta forgive yourself. And then you gotta know that God's gonna help you get to where you need to be. Amen. He's a good father. He is a amazing father.

[Victoria Osteen]

Today it's a new year, an opportunity for a fresh start. It's a new year. Time to forget the struggles of the past and make room for new blessings. It's a new year. The perfect time to build expectation and faith for an amazing new season.

[Joel Osteen]

The beginning of the year is a great time to start afresh and anew, to let go of negative things of the past and to get ready for the new things God has in store. Every January we create a new devotional calendar. When you start off each day in faith, grateful for what God has done and making positive declarations over your future, you're setting the tone for a blessed day and a victorious year. This devotional calendar will help you get your mind going in the right direction so you can live in faith expecting the goodness of God.

[Victoria Osteen]

As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount this first month of the year, we would like to send you a copy of our brand new 2025365 day devotional calendar. Using this devotional calendar is as easy as one. 2, 3. 1. Wake up with an expectancy in your heart. 2. Reflect on the daily scripture verse and devotional from Joel. 3. Capture the Lord's promises to on journaling lines for writing and reflection.

[Joel Osteen]

This is going to be one of your best years. Our 2025 devotional calendar is going to help you stay in faith and see the goodness of God in ways you've never seen. Victoria and I pray for you and your family every day and thank you so much for your prayer and support. Your generosity is impacting lives around the world. A special thank you to our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly gifts. If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. Remember, you can watch the services online live every Sunday Morning Download our daily podcast watch on YouTube now, the new Joel Osteen network 24 hours a day. And of course, listen live on Sirius XM as well. But until we meet again, may the Lord bless you and keep you. May he show you his favor and watch over you.

[Victoria Osteen]

Be sure to request your copy of the 2025 devotional calendar today. Visit joelosteen.com or call us toll free.

[Carnival Representative]

Meet Flip she's one half of a flip flop that's me who got left behind at Celebration Key Carnival's exclusive paradise in Grand Bahama.

[Flip]

Uh, I chose to stay here. It really is paradise.

[Carnival Representative]

So now Flip spends her time lounging on the beach, swimming in the lagoon and eating.

[Flip]

The only thing more impressive than my appetite are all the dining options.

[Listener]

Yeah.

[Carnival Representative]

Have you tried food service to your cabana?

[Flip]

Ooh, yum.

[Walmart Representative]

Clip.

[Carnival Representative]

Where'd she go? Book your cruise Vacation to Carnival Celebration Cay A paradise you'll want to lose yourself in. Ship's registry the Bahamas and Panama Walmart.

[Walmart Plus Representative]

Plus it's Walmart plus free delivery, which saves members time plus money.

[Walmart Representative]

Yep.

[Walmart Plus Representative]

Plus an included Paramount plus subscription to.

[Walmart Representative]

Stream movies, shows, sports and that can't miss documentary plus Burger King savings that's right.

[Walmart Plus Representative]

Members get 25% off Burger King digital orders every day of the week. Week Walmart + it's Walmart + become a [e-mail] 35 order minimum Bearmount + essential plan only separate registration required.

[Walmart Representative]

Valid and participating USBKs in the BK.

[Walmart Plus Representative]

App or bk.com for members only 25 off one time for calendar day. Terms apply. See Walmart+ terms and conditions.

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