The story of Christianity is not about how much, or how well people love God. It is about how much and how well God loves people. You and I can know, understand and experience love because Love came to us. God doesn’t love us less when we make mistakes or pull away from him. He can’t, God’s love is not based on who you are, or what you do, or don’t do on a particular day.
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1
The greatest expression of God’s love is this,
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
When I had nothing to give. When I was wrapped in darkness, when the chains of fear entangled me. When my attitudes were bitter, my thinking was foolish, my heart refused to love. Then. Then God chose to demonstrate his love for me. And you.
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10
If we are going to love others well, we must find our way to God, who alone is Love. We can not look to ourselves, or others if we really want to understand Love. Undeserved love. Unearned love. Love despite who you are or what you’ve done.
Understanding and knowing God’s love is the thing that has changed me the most. When I find myself in the midst of God’s love I am humbled… who am I? When I think of the cost of this Love, the sacrifice, the One that chose death in my place, I am undone. How is it possible to be undone, and held together in the same moment, by love?
God is Love.
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19
If you are having a hard time walking in love, spend more time with God. Read about God’s love for you. Ask God to show you his love. It all starts with God – he is the source of Love. He will fulfill your need for love, He will fill you with love for the unlovely. May you never be the same as you learn about this great love the Father has lavished on you!
