No Greater Love!
Scripture Text: 1 John 4: 7-9 (NKJV)
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
Love
The Merriam-Webster online Dictionary defines love as both a noun and a verb. In that dictionary alone, there are approximately 24 definitions of love. Love is even defined for kids, for persons learning English as a foreign language and for students. However, there are a few definitions to which I would like to draw your attention.
Number 1: unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: such as (a): the fatherly concern of God for humankind (b): brotherly concern for others
Number 2: a person's adoration of God
Number 3: capitalized, Christian Science: GOD
One of these definitions matches one we find in Scripture – 1 John 4:8 – “God is love”. Seems like a simple definition, after all it’s only three words. Yet, in this instance it proves the most profound of them all. Paul in Ephesians, in speaking of God’s kind of love, is unable to put a limit or extent to it, as truly, it is endless. He prays that God’s people be grounded in that limitless love and come to comprehend its length, height, and depth. (Ephesians 3:17) In Romans, the same sentiment is expressed when Paul asks, “Who can separate us from the love of God?” After considering all manner of possibilities, he concludes that nothing can separate us, not height or depth, not even death. (Romans 8:35, 38-39)
Therefore, nothing is greater than God's love. His love is on another level. A level that we fall short of day to day. But praise God that His love never fails. (Lamentations 3:22; 1 Corinthians 13:8) It is a love that we can experience afresh every day. (Lamentations 3:23)
Evidences of God’s Love
Due to the endless nature of God’s love, the following list is not to be considered exhaustive. Think of it as a starter kit, and daily as we experience Him for ourselves, we can add to this list.
1. God’s love is shown in the fact that He created us – in His image and with His hands
Let us consider the following texts:
Genesis 1:26 says- “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.””
Genesis 2:7 says- “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
The God of the Universe, in its vastness, wanted to create you, specifically. It was not a matter of happenstance but a decision that the Godhead made. “Let us”, they said, “make man”. And not only that, let us give them dominion over the things we have already spoken into existence. Further, let us stoop down and craft them, mold them tenderly and breathe our life into their nostrils.
What love it must have taken for God so big and powerful to stoop down and form us. Why not speak as with other creatures ‘Let there be humans’, why the extra care and attention?
Because of love.
2. God’s love is shown in the fact that He redeemed us at the high price of death
To redeem us, to buy us back from Satan, God through the person of Jesus became a curse for us. (Galatians 3:13) This same Jesus, is the One through whom all that was made was made and is upheld. (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16). This same Jesus, is “the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace”. (Isaiah 9:6) This Jesus, “being in the form of God…made himself of no reputation…and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2: 6-8)
What would inspire such a transformation of status? Why would the life-giver choose to give up His life? Because that’s what His love for us cost. Each of us have sinned and deserve death (Romans 3:23, 6:23) but Jesus came to this world to save us (John 3:17). The only way was for Him to take our place; to die our death and give us His eternal life. What a great exchange!
Consider Romans 5:8-10 which says- “8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
What a high price to pay! It must be love!
3. God shows His love by calling us His children
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” – 1 John 3:1
We are His! There is no better feeling of belonging than this – to be the son or daughter of the God of this vast universe. He gave all who believed on Him the right to become children of God. (John 1:12) Of them He said: “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters” (2 Corinthians 6:18). As children of God, we are heirs of all that is His (Galatians 4: 6, 7) and what a grand inheritance it is!
This world in which we live has many examples of the love that is shared between a parent and their child, especially the seemingly undying love of a mother. After all, what wouldn’t a mother give for the ‘son of her womb?’ ‘Could she forget her sucking child?’ The Lord tells us: “Surely [she] may forget”. But quickly identifies Himself as the One who we can be assured will never forget His children. He has inscribed us on the palm of His hands. (Isaiah 49:15)
There is no greater love!
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for all the evidences of your love in my life. Thank you for caring for someone such as I, in Jesus' name, Amen.
