In the last few posts, we’ve looked at loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Today we will take a brief look at God’s love for us. Having a revelation of God’s love is the foundation for our faith and is one of the most wonderful truths we can know.
For many of us, we have thought God was an old white-haired man sitting on His throne in heaven, ready to pounce on us for the slightest wrong. We have thought of Him as being an angry parent or one who only loves us when we achieve perfection. Wrong!
This is not the God we serve. He loved us before we were born… before we had a chance to do right or wrong. That love did not stop when we were born or sinned or made our first mistakes in life.
Let’s take a brief look at scripture to see if this is true. Before we dive into the Bible to examine this truth, let me state clearly, God is a holy God, and He does want us to be holy. This, however, does not diminish His love of us, as we will see.
The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Jeremiah 31:3
This passage comes after a long rebuke from the Lord towards the nation of Israel for their rebellion and sin against Him. He does acknowledge their just and due punishment, but also proclaims His unfailing love and mercy.
Discipline had to be given to the nation because it would have imploded in total iniquity without the intervention and loving correction of the Lord. The last thing God wanted to do was allow Israel’s enemies to overcome the land, yet He also knew they would not listen unless they underwent the judgements, He pronounced against them. His only purpose was to bring them back to loving and obeying Him. His anger was only for a moment, but His lovingkindness was forever.
The writer of Hebrews explains how the Father now disciplines those He loves for their good. His discipline is not through sickness or disease or calamity but through His Word. He warns us, convicts us, and gently works in us to do His will. However, once we reject His ways, we are left to our own devices and that usually ends up in pain and misery.
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "MY SON, DO NOT DESPISE THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD, NOR BE DISCOURAGED WHEN YOU ARE REBUKED BY HIM; FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS, AND SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? Hebrews 12:5-7
Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:9-11
Any parent who loves their child will discipline them for their good, although they would much rather not have to do so. A child with no discipline will have a very difficult life with relationships, accountability, time management, boundaries, self-control, integrity, and moral ethics.
Of all the passages in the Bible that prove God’s love for us, John 3:16 certainly stands out.
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. John 3:16
We could probably end this blog right here, because it does not get any better than this. God sending His Son to die on our behalf proves His hatred for sin, but His love for His creation. He had to judge sin, but because of His unfathomable love, He wanted to save humanity from the eternal penalty of sin. Amazing love and grace!
Let’s look at a few more passages to underscore this truth.
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us…. Ephesians 2:4
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:2
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace…. 2 Thessalonians 2:16
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. 1 John 4:10
We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19
“and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood….” Revelation 1:5
I encourage you to take time to read the first two chapters of Ephesians over and over again. Each time you read the word ‘God’, think ‘Father’ because it is speaking of Him. You will easily see how much He loves us and the immeasurable and eternal blessings we have as a result.
Meditate upon these truths. Thank God for His love continually and be grounded in the knowledge of His love even in the midst of suffering and trials. His love for you will never change.
We will continue this study in our next post. Until then, may God our Heavenly Father, richly bless and keep you!
James Brown
CST 02/28/2024