LOVE.

  Some find love in a feeling. Some find love in a person. Some find love in an act. What is love, exactly? Is it relative, or can it be defined?

   "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. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."  -1 John 4:9-11

  Love in its purest form: that God would send His only Son to be punished for the sins of the world. So that for everyone who believes in Jesus, is no longer condemned, but is adopted into the family of God, receives the Holy Spirit, partakes in His blessings, and will ultimately spend eternity with Him in paradise.


  So then, what do we do with this love? Do we accept this free gift of grace, only to live as we please? John continues:

  "This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome." (1 John 5:3)

  God's commands are a joy to keep! It is an honor to serve Him. It is a blessing to join in the work that God is doing. We don't "have" to keep his commands: WE GET TO! Because of the freedom that Christ gives us through the cross, we are free and able to love, to serve, to obey, to sacrifice our flesh, all for the glory of God!

  The people of Israel constantly rebelled against God. Pharaoh from Exodus hardened his heart against God. King David committed adultery and murder. The apostle Paul persecuted Christians. The prophet Jonah refused to obey God and proclaim His word to a sinful city. Moses feared man more than God. Abraham distrusted God's plan and slept with a maidservant to carry out his family line, despite God's promise. 

  What was God's response towards all of these people? Patience. Graciousness. In all of these, He shows His great love. How dare we say that God is not a loving God? He pursues us even in our rebellion and hatred of Him, and gives us multiple opportunities to turn to Him and obey. Jesus hung on the cross, and amidst the physical, emotional, and spiritual pain, spoke forgiveness over his enemies! Those who were killing him, jeering at him, mocking him. He had such love for them, that he suffered greatly so that they would have a chance to live, and not be in eternal separation from God.

  "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were sinners, Christ died for us..."  -Romans 5:8

  Paul goes on to say that we were enemies of God, yet through Jesus' death, He reconciled us to Himself, giving us the chance for eternal life!

  Throughout the Psalms, God continually shows compassion, love, and justice for those who are suffering, helpless, and in desperate need. Our hearts should break for those in suffering, darkness, and captivity. It should be our ultimate goal to point them to Jesus, whether in word or deed. If we really understood the gospel, and fully grasped what God has done for us, we would be compelled to demonstrate this love, and share the good news: that Jesus paid for our sin, that we have direct access to God  

  Who are we to say "this is love," if it does not reflect the character of God? God being the epitome of love, we define love by everything that God is: just, holy, compassionate, kind, forgiving. God also corrects, rebukes, and disciplines. He does everything out of LOVE. He IS love.



love like Jesus. love fearlessly. love relentlessly. love unconditionally.