Mankind has some interesting ideas about love. If you were to do a quick web search asking, “what is love”, a popular web-based “encyclopedia” states: “Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection and to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of meanings is that the love of a mother differs from the love of a spouse, which differs from the love of food. Most commonly, love refers to a feeling of strong attraction and emotional attachment.” Doesn’t your heart just melt? ;-D lol. But that isn’t real love. God is love. And to understand that, we need only look at His expressions of love toward us. “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8.
Most people have heard that God loves the world. We may not believe that He loves us, personally (but He does). And, typically, those of us who have a personal relationship with the Lord would associate God with love. We have seen Him express that love toward us in so many beautiful ways.
The most powerful way that God has expressed His love for us is through the provision of our Savior and His Son, Jesus. “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
But God also expresses His love through the blessings and miracles that He provides. He pours them out upon us daily. However, we miss a lot of them for lack of watching and believing. “How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.” Psalm 31:19 (NLT).
Another expression of love that God uses is through His provisions. He promised to (and does) provide us with those things that we need. And, as I’ve said before, this is not always what we want… but it’s always what we need. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.
Yet another expression of God’s love for us is time. God gives us time in terms of allowing us a relationship and time with Him in this life. But, God also provides us (through our acceptance of a personal relationship with His Son) eternal life. “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.”
And He is patient in waiting for us to come to the point in which we have that personal relationship. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” That IS God!
Our God is patient (2 Peter 3:9). He is Kind. “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. ” Titus 3:4-5. He is not envious. What or whom would He have to envy? He does not boast nor is He proud. Think of the humility of Christ. He does not dishonor. “Therefore, there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1. He is not self-seeking, but self-sacrificing. Obviously, He is not easily angered or He would have wiped us all out by now and started over 😉 . And He keeps no record of wrongs (“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 43:25).
But is this how we love? Or do we love like the world?
The definition that I originally gave in the first paragraph compared love to three different scenarios. A mother differs from the love of a spouse, which differs from the love of food. Looking at them individually, mothers no longer even stay with their children. More and more mothers are abandoning their children for infidelity, addictions, and the desire to be unencumbered. So, how deep is that love?
It also references the love of a spouse. Spouse?! People don’t even marry anymore! We stay with people as long as they are willing to make us happy and then we move on to the next person. So, how deep is that love?
And then they compare it to food. This is one of the enemy’s oldest tactics! The love and desire for food, if left unchecked, can literally kill us. But that’s not love. It is lust and/or gluttony.
These are what the world considers expressions of love.
God conveys His expressions of love in many different ways; many incredible, beautiful, and intimate ways.
What do our expressions of love look like? Do you need to work on them? Because I know I sure do. We could/should learn from the way that God expresses His love for us and begin to love others similarly. “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” Ephesians 5:1.
Father God, thank You that You even love us. Thank You that, while we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us, as one of your many expressions of love. Father, we do love You. Teach us to love others the way that You love us. Help us see them through Your eyes and love them with Your heart. Holy Spirit, help us to be imitators of God. We love You, praise You, and thank You, Lord. And we pray this in your precious and holy name. Amen.
If you have been loved in the temporary, insignificant way that the world loves and desire something more, please go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/). On that page, you will find a prayer outlined. Please pray that prayer. Through that prayer, you will find a truer love than you have ever known or imagined. You will find the love of God Himself. He longs for a relationship with you and has been patiently waiting. Please pray. And, once you have, reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know. I’d love to be in prayer with and for you.
Luv Ya!
