God, The Greatest Lover
READ | 1 John 4:16-21
God's love is an everlasting gift. We don't deserve it. But, there's nothing we can do to lose it. The Father's love simply is. No amount of good or bad work causes it to change. What's more, we must realize that when we try to repay someone for a freely given gift, we frustrate the giver and reveal our own lack of self-worth.
As long as you or I feel we must deserve the Father's love, we cannot fully experience it. We'll be so busy trying to do something lovable that it won't occur to us to be still and simply allow His nature to settle our mind and heart. And what is His nature? God isn't simply loving. The Scriptures tell us He is love (1 John 4:16).
In addition, God's love is sacrificial. It's the kind of love that puts aside your own desire to meet the need of your beloved. In our case, that need is salvation. We are sinners, incapable of relating to a holy God on our own. Divine justice required payment for our sin-debt. Yet, to express His love while staying true to His justice, God determined a substitute would pay the penalty in our place. And so, He sent His Son to die on the cross. There, God allowed Jesus to endure the torment of separation from His Father. As a result, everyone who trusts in the Savior's sacrifice never has to experience His pain.
God loved before you were born. 2,000 years ago, He sent Jesus to die in your place. Stop trying to earn the gift that you already own! Instead, follow the command found in Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God."
Comments