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Have you read any scriptures lately about God’s love? If not, here are just two:
John 3:16 states: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (NKJV).
Romans 5:8 states: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (NKJV).
What is this thing called “love”? Well, definitions show love as being “an intense feeling of deep affection” and “a constant affection or dedication for another.” Can you imagine that the Creator of the heavens and the earth loves you with a deep affection? Can you imagine that the Creator of the heavens and the earth loves you with a constant affection?
In the past, my knowledge of God’s love was based solely on ‘head knowledge’. It was all based on the scriptures I had memorized about God’s love. Or sermons that talked about God’s love. The problem with this is that, my knowledge of God’s love never sunk deep within me. To the extent that, what I knew of God’s love for me moved me to want to serve God. Where it moved me to honor God with my life. Where it moved me to trust God. Where it moved me to love God deeply.
Psalm 108:4 states: For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies (NIV).
The fact that I may not be able to comprehend God’s love as expressed in Psalm 108:4, this still does not change the fact that God loves me with a love that is “higher than the heavens.”
Head knowledge about God’s love is good. But that ‘head knowledge’ must impact our hearts as well.
As believers, when we know in our mind and in our heart that God loves us, it will transform how we live. How we serve. How we desire to read the Word. It will transform how we endure in confident hope of God’s deliverance when we face adversity.
As believers, when we know in our mind and in our heart that God loves us, it will transform how we love others. How we love ourselves. It will transform how, in childlike faith, we find security and stability in God’s love.
I end with 1 John 4:16 that states: We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (NLT).
Except where indicated, scripture references are from the American Standard Version (ASV), Darby Translation (DARBY), or King James Version (KJV) – all public domain.
