“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 1:9-10)
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
There is a deep hunger inside of us to be accepted and loved. We search for it often in the wrong places.
The amazing thing about God is that he provides what we need most.
Common misunderstandings about the love of God:
- Love is only a feeling
Love evokes an emotion, but it is much more than a feeling. We are always searching for that feeling. People talk about falling into love and out of love, which basically means we either feel emotion or we don’t.
- Because God’s love is so great, he doesn’t care how we live our lives.
Here’s what we know is true: God cannot overlook sin. He will never contradict his own nature. In his love he doesn’t overlook our sin, his love compelled him to provide for us a solution to our sin problem.
We live in a world that says, “If you love me, you’ll accept anything I do.” But everyone knows this is not true. Love cares about right and wrong.
- Because God’s love is so great, everyone will one day be saved.
While this sounds attractive, it is completely at odds with the Bible. It just isn’t true. While God offers his love, his grace, and his forgiveness to all people, it has to be received. A rejection of Jesus and his love is a rejection of Heaven.
So, let’s talk about the love of God. God’s love comes without human cause. He loves because that is the kind of God He is. Nothing in us causes him to love us. Not our beauty, not our wealth, not our wisdom, not our good deeds, and not our promise to love him back.
He loves you and me because God is love and he can’t help loving us, even when we were his enemies. This is his character.
His love is greater than our sin, and in spite of our sin. He really shouldn’t love us, but He does. We are not worthy, but He does. Isn’t this amazing?
No matter how you are, where you are from, what you have done, how many times you have failed, and even if you don’t love yourself, God is loves you!
Motivated by His love, God provides a solution to our impossible problem. God’s decision goes beyond human reason and comprehension. Only God could come up with a plan like this.
Today's Challenge: Respond the the love of God by placing your faith in Jesus as your savior and your Lord. If you have already done that, make time today to thank God for his love because I know it has changed your life.
Discussion Questions:
- Have you ever doubted the love of God?
- Where do you see evidence of the love of God in your life?
- What are some practical ways we can show the love of God to others?
Recommended Resource: The Love of God: An Intimate Look at the Father-Heart of God by Oswald Chambers
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