We know from reading the Bible that “God is love,” but the world culture wants us to believe that the greatest “love” is merely a fleeting feeling. But, is a parent’s love for a child—merely a feeling? If so, it would NEVER last. Women experience painful labor to bring a child into the world, but God endured so much more to make us part of His family. His only Son was born into a cruel world with the purpose to suffer and die to purchase redemption and reconciliation for us.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In THIS is LOVE, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
God is love and love GIVES. Love is OF God and Love is FROM God. Love paid the ultimate sacrifice—so we could live. To know God is to know the greatest love. We can’t experience HIS love—without Him. It is obvious from this passage that “love” is “complete sacrifice of self. And this love is not a one-off. Rather, it is constantly manifested right here—in the mess where we live. 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 explains:
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
God is so good to give us this detailed description of His magnificent love. It is nearly impossible for us to comprehend this kind of love coming from a single being because we live in such a broken world. But here, God gives us specific examples that apply to everyone—everywhere. Indeed, we ALL—understand, have experienced, and, have been guilty of—impatience, envy, pride, rudeness, selfishness, etc.
God’s love is the opposite of all of the behavior which has painfully pierced our soul.
My friend, God’s love is real and powerful. It is His great desire for us to experience it. Just look at this list—isn’t it everything you would love to experience in a relationship???
In God’s presence, we enter into an experience of love that…
- endures hardship and unkindness with patience, humility, and peace.
- seeks to be kind and thoughtful even amidst unkindness and unthoughtfulness.
- is not jealous or envious of the good things of others; in fact, prays for God’s goodness to others even those who are unkind to us.
- does not brag and is not proud or arrogant; but rather is constantly giving glory to God and credit to others.
- is not rude; but rather, uses a soft answer and kind words—even when presenting hard truths.
- is not self-seeking; but rather seeks to benefit others.
- is not easily provoked; (not overly sensitive, easily angered, or offended) because the sting of provoking behavior does not and cannot defeat love.
- does not take into account the wrongs endured. It doesn’t keep score because scorekeeping results in unforgiveness and a loss of the presence of God, who IS love. It does not store up the memory of any wrong it has received; it does not cling to the hurts of the past. It never presumes a good action may have a bad motive.
- does not rejoice at injustice to anyone, including those who have wronged them.
- rejoices in the triumphs of the truth of God and His great goodness—both for His glory and for the salvation of souls.
- bears ALL things because it is unchanged by ANYTHING—including difficult circumstances. Love denies herself, sacrifices herself, all for the glory of God.
- believes that all things can be worked for good to the glory of God.
- hopes in all things because God (not things or people) is the primary source of hope and—He never changes.
- endures all things without wavering or weakening because love’s strength— flows from God the Giver of strength.
- never fails because God never fails.
Are you experiencing this kind of love???
THIS is the love of God. This kind of love does not ask for an easy life like self-love does. Love denies herself, sacrifices herself, and gives all. God set the standard for love by the gift of His only Son. The PROOF that we belong to Him is when HIS love flows through us. There is no experience on earth that compares to the presence of God. But until we experience the amazing love of God being poured into us—we will never be able to sustainably share it with anyone. You don’t want to miss this! God’s personal presence in our life begins when we are born again. Then, we must grow in the attitudes of Christ. As we grow closer to God, His gift of love is multiplied through us!
4 Responses
Oh to comprehend the height, and depth and breadth of this kind of love….. thanks for your faithfulness in reminding us…
Amen brother! Merry Christmas!
Thank you for the reading today. I often feel that you are writing to me. This is a good way to let things that you can’t fix, be someone else’s “junk”. I don’t need to carry it around. May God bless you and keep your writing coming.
Blessings on Christmas Eve! It’s always such a blessing to know that God is blessing others with what He teaches me. And yes…God’s junk yard is big and only He can make treasure out of something we trash. My life is proof. 🥰