A friend of mine has taken it upon himself to remind everyone on his chat list about the love of God, daily. So I began to wonder what God’s love is about. Although this is an inexhaustible topic, we will be looking at a few characteristics of this love.
God’s love gives us the ability to love as well. Some people find it hard to love others. This is not because they don’t want to love, but because they have never experienced it. It is difficult, impossible even, to give what you don’t have. But we are told in 1 John 4:19 that we love because God first loved us. We receive a capacity to love others, on a Jesus level, when we ourselves accept God’s love.
Romans 5:5 tells us that God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who lives within us. We already have God’s love dwelling in us. Sometimes, the devil may come with his taunts. Remind him that you are not only loved by God but His love also dwells within you.
An understanding of God’s love is the solution to your fear. The scripture tells us that perfect love casts out fear (1 Jn 4:18). The love God gives is the perfect kind. If we are well aware that God loves us, we would not get so fearful. When you come to the understanding that you are the one whom God in Christ died for, nothing fazes you. Why do you think apostle Paul could say to live is for Christ and to die is gain? He understood how loved he was by God that he saw death merely as a horse he would ride to spend eternity with His Lord. (Php. 1:21; Gal. 2:20)
God’s love gives. The Bible tells us in John 3:16 that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. What we can learn from His love is that it is readily giving. And His love doesn’t give just anything. It gives the best. If earthly fathers do well for their children, how much more your heavenly Father? God’s love gives. The Bible tells us in John 3:16 that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. What we can learn from His love is that it is readily giving. And His love doesn’t give just anything. It gives the best. If earthly fathers do well for their children, how much more your heavenly Father? He who did not spare his Son, shall He not freely give you all things? (Matt. 7:11) He who did not spare his Son, shall He not freely give you all things?
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:32 NIV
In choosing life partners and friends, we look at their weaknesses and think to ourselves “Can I handle this?” There is nothing wrong with doing this. It is, in fact, a wise thing to do. But it shouldn’t shock you that God’s love is not like that. His love looks beyond your weakness or past. All He needs is your submission. Peter was very timid. Paul was a persecutor of the church. God’s love was there for them despite their weaknesses.
In addition to this, His love chases and doesn’t give up. It is independent of other factors. Despite Jonah’s rebellion, God did not give up on Nineveh (Jon. 1&3). Regardless of Israel’s constant disobedience, God’s love was much more constant. It does not give up.
God’s love remains. You may think that God has stopped loving you when you begin to face certain trials. But the word of God tells us that His love is everlasting (Jer. 31:3; Psa. 136: 26). Amid your storm, be assured that His love is still with you. Having this mind makes us see relying on God during our trials as an option.
One mistake the people of Israel were always making was to think God had turned His back on them whenever they faced a difficulty. Of course, this only took them further away from Him. If they only acknowledged God’s love for them in that situation, they would have had a better disposition to the challenge and a better relationship with Him.
The LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
Jeremiah 31:3 ESV
God’s love is patient and readily forgiving. For this, I am reminded of the story of the prodigal son. The prodigal son had messed up big time and soon enough he realized this. He made a plan, more like a recital, of how he was going to beg forgiveness from his dad and ask to be taken in not as a son anymore but as a servant.
However, something very amazing happened. As soon as his father caught sight of him returning home, his father did not wait for him to reach the house. He instantly ran to meet him halfway. He did not wait for his son to complete his recital, he hugged him and welcomed him with a great feast. (Lk. 15:11-32)
The fact that the father saw him and ran to meet him halfway tells us that he must have been waiting. He must have stood outside every day just waiting and hoping to see his son return home. How much more our heavenly Father. As soon as we choose to repent, to return home, He catches up with us and warmly welcomes us home. Not as servants, but as sons.
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are…
1 John 3:1a ESV
God’s love for you is patient. Waiting for you to come to repentance. The scripture tells us that He delays, not willing that any should perish but that all come into repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). Just like the father of the prodigal son, He is waiting daily for you to take that step of repentance. Yes, you have messed up but don’t remain in the mess. Return to Him.
And perhaps you have already taken this step, His love is ready to forgive you. He says that He will not remember your sins anymore (Heb. 8:12). Even your worst sins cannot separate you from His love (Rom. 8:38-39 MSG). In fact, He forgave you even before you knew you needed forgiveness. Romans 5:8 tells us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He gave up Himself, knowing fully well that you will still commit that sin. His love is ready, waiting to accept you in His arms as soon as you return to Him. His love keeps no record of wrongdoing (1 Cor. 13:1). He blots out your iniquities.
On that note, today is a good day to return to your first love…He who loves you so much that He gave Himself up to torture, shame, and death for your sake. Tell Him how sorry you are for your errors and accept His love. Allow His love transform you and remind yourself continually about this wonderful nature of His love.
Faith+blog 