Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 1John 3:1
One of the best feelings in the world without a doubt is love and it becomes very special when you are loved unconditionally by God almighty... Let's get into how we can explore, discover and experience God's love through His word and commitment to Him.
Being called the children of God is born out of the love that the Father has bestowed on us. God's love is based on who He is and not who we are! To be called children of God means He has made you His kind. "I said you are gods, And all of you are children of the highest" (Psalm 82:6)
As children of God, you may change a million times towards God, but His love towards you remains the same. God loved you even before you became a Christian. His love for you has not diminished because of what you have done or what you refused to do. (Romans 8:5 & Lamentation 3:22-23)
∆ God's Unconditional Love
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
God's love is completely unconditional, meaning that it is not based on anything we do or don't do. It is a love that cannot be earned or lost, but rather freely given to us regardless of our flaws, mistakes, or shortcomings.
However, it's still hard for some people to believe in God's unconditional love because they don't know how God could love someone who often makes mistakes or gets into a mess! The interesting part of it is that His love for you did not start when you became a Christian but way back before the commencement of your Christian journey. God's Love is unconditional, you don't earn it and it's without boundaries.
There is a need to believe this truth for a first-hand experience of God's unconditional love which resonates throughout scripture. God’s love comes through people and things you may not see. His love for us is so deep that He sent His son Jesus Christ to die and save us from our sins. (1 John 4:9-10)
∆ God's Love as a Source of Healing and Restoration
For I will restore health to you And heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, 'Because they called you an outcast saying: “This is Zion; No one seeks her.”’ Jeremiah 30:17
God's love has the power to heal and restore us. It is a love that can mend our brokenness, heal our wounds, and bring wholeness to our lives. "Greater love has no one than this than to lay down one’s life for his friends." John15:13
God's love extends to the homeless, the prisoners, the sick and even those who are misleading people against the word of God. The scripture teaches us how Jesus spent most of His time healing many people of their illnesses and sharing the message of God's kingdom with the Pharisees despite being against Him. (Luke 17:20)
When Jesus was on this earth, He did His best to demonstrate the love of God to everyone through healing the sick, raising the dead and bringing deliverance to many! Most especially, He died as a substitute for the sins of the world. (Acts 10:38)
∆ The Depth and Width of God's Love
"That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19
God's love is vast and immeasurable. It surpasses our understanding and extends beyond our comprehension. It is a love that we can continually explore and discover. As we deepen our relationship with God, we can experience the depths and widths of His love, which is beyond what words can express.
Even nature expresses the depth and width of God's love that we can't fully comprehend! In the splendour of a sunrise, in the calmness of a sleeping child, in God's love and mercy, we have seen the depth and width of God's love!
Food on the table and clothes to put on, whether we have much or little, God has shown us the depth and width of His love. During one of Jesus' sermons, He stressed the extent of the depth and width of God's love by saying "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him" Matthew 7:11
God will not withhold good things from those He loves and you are one of God's love. In His perfect goodness, He walked this earth, taught us how to live and love, and healed diseases... Also, mended relationships, set the captive free and gave us life... Many people around the world can testify of God's goodness in their lives!
∆ The Transformative Power of God's Love in Our Lives
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1John 4:7-8
God's love has the power to transform us from the inside out. It can change our perspectives, attitudes, and behaviours. When we allow God's love to work in us, we become more compassionate, forgiving, and loving towards others. It empowers us to live a life that reflects His love for the world.
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you John 15:12. The first thing that may come to mind reading through this verse is, how can we possibly love someone just like Jesus... Until you accept God's love and put it into practice, you can never love like Him.
Also, adopting Jesus' principles for love can put us in a better position to love like Him! As part of Jesus's principles for love; He lay aside statutes and became a servant. He engaged in practical deeds to bring hope across all boards. We can do just like Him!
An experience of God's love helps us to find comfort, peace, and restoration for our souls. This can happen through the help of the Holy Spirit. We can only love like Jesus when He loves through us. (Matthew 19:26)
∆ Sharing God's Love with Others
And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God must also love his brother and sister. 1 John 4:21
If we love God, we must also love others! We are commanded to Spread God's Hope and Compassion to the world we live in! God's love is not meant to be kept to ourselves but rather shared with others. When we receive God's love, we are called to extend that love to those around us. By sharing God's love with others, we become vessels of hope and compassion, bringing light into a world that desperately needs it.
It's so special to be rooted and grounded in love! Allowing love to be the motivator of all our actions! However, It's hard for most people to feel loveable because of their faults and are sometimes restricted by what they see! Love accepts the good, and the not-so-good! (1Corinthians 13:4-7)
Love demands a response! The greater the love, the greater our desire to be equal to that love. All we can do is follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to the best of our ability by loving others as He loves us. "Love does not harm a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilment of the law. Romans13:10
Too often, we only want to associate with people just like us, people of the same personality type... God allows different people to come our way for a reason, His love is inclusive and not exclusive. People may not come from the same faith as us, but that doesn't permit us to snub them (Romans 12:10)
Let your love reach out to people you may not naturally choose as friends... You don't have to agree with everything about them but show them acceptance and God's love.
Jesus has shown you much love, so be the extension of that love to others. There are ways, God can touch lives through you with His love. You are the channel of God's love to people around you and the world at large.
Prayer
I pray for you and your household to experience the evidence of God's love in greater dimensions that you have never experienced before in Jesus' name.
Blessing!