I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. Jeremiah 31:3 (NASB) 

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. I John 4:16 

God’s love is so very different from ours. We fall in love, and out of love. We love children, or other family members or friends. Then, there are lots of people we don’t even like, much less love. Our love is changeable and often depends on how we perceive others’ action. God’s love is different – it is part of who God is. God’s love is perfect, and it is for all people. After all He did create all of us, and the world we live in, and called it all “good.”  

Yet when we look around us at our world, we see lots more evidence of indifference and hatred then of love. We see whole groups of people who think they are superior to other groups. We have systemic racism embedded in our society. The concept of loving all of the people in God’s creation is often not what happens. Those who do love “others” may only share that love with those who are like them. 

God’s love is different – it is not based on what we do to please Him. It is not even based on how well we love Him. After all Jesus came as our means of salvation before we were even born. Romans 5:8 says: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  God loves us because He is love. There is nothing we can do to earn this love. Our response needs to be one where we experience God’s love and share it in our relationships with others.  

As the children’s song says:  Praise Him, Praise Him all ye little children  God is love, God is love   (Love Him v.2, Thank Him v. 3)   

Eternal and faithful God, we live in a world where there never seems to be enough love. Loving God, we love you because you first loved us. You always reach out to us before we respond to you. May we always have love in our hearts for you and for one another. As you abide in us, may we grow closer to you and share your amazing love. Amen.    

Chris Gabel   

Ministries
Teaching Mission Party