This week I have been pondering God’s love for us and why so many would reject such a perfect love. My focus today will be on God’s love for His chosen, and next week I will speak to why people reject God’s perfect love. In many ways I can only paint with a wide brush stroke what God’s love for us looks like, for to begin to see the full picture of God’s love, all of scripture would need to be articulated here, and even that would not be sufficient to fully understand the extent of His love for us. What is so amazing about God’s love is that it is a free gift to those who place their faith in Him (“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast” Ephesians 2:8-9, NASB), and that it is not based on who we are or our level of goodness (“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8). And what is so astounding about God’s love is that He chose to love us even before the creation of the Universe (“just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will” Ephesians 1:4-5). To think what God did as part of His love for us, it is so amazingly hard to comprehend, for “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life” John 3:16).
Again, although I cannot completely communicate or even fully understand the vastness of God’s perfect love, when I ponder God’s love I can see that in His perfection He overcomes the challenges of mere mortal affection. As an example, although human love is full of doubts and betrayals of all different kinds, I know I can have full confidence in God’s unfailing love (God is not a man, that He would lie, Nor a son of man, that He would change His mind; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Numbers 23:19). Additionally, for many experiencing human love, it can include loss and abandonment, but God will never leave us (And the Lord is the one who is going ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not desert you or abandon you. Do not fear and do not be dismayed” Deuteronomy 31:8).” For God will stand with us and be our rock in all circumstances (When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you” Isaiah 43:2). And with God’s love, you never have to fear the unknown (“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will also help you, I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand”. Isaiah 41:10) or be anxious in any circumstance (Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6-7). For the Love that God describes in all His wonder is the love that we ultimately most desire and seek (Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails;” I Corinthians 13:4-8a).
And oh what comfort it is to know that God’s love is available to all who place their faith in Him, so “Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked abandon his way, And the unrighteous person his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, and to our God, For He will abundantly pardon” Isaiah 55:6-9).