Have you ever thought about God’s love for mankind, or what it means that
God is love? In 1 John 3 we read that we can love because God first loved us.
Also, that we are to love others and that when we do it is a sign that we know God,
that we understand the forgiveness Jesus Christ provided for us by His death on the
cross.
What is really important for us to understand is that God doesn’t just love us but
His very essence, His nature, is one of love. This is in perfect harmony with His
holiness, His goodness and His desire for justice or fairness. Then we come to
understand that Father God is calling us to love in the way He loves, and that
eventually our very essence or nature will also be one of love. Love will be who
we are just as it is who He is.
In 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter, I want you to do a little experiment with
me. First, in verses 4 to 7, I want you to replace the word love with God and read
through it. Because God is love it works perfectly. Now, after you’ve done that I
want you to read through it again but replace the word love with your name.
Let me do it for vs. 4. Alan is patient, Alan is kind. Alan does not envy, Alan
does not boast, Alan is not proud. Ok, that doesn’t work quite so well as when I put
God’s name in place of love. It’s not that I don’t strive to be and do all those
things, but I am human and still struggle with many things in my life. I’m sure you
do as well, after all, we’re only human.
There is some good news! God will help us. The Bible tells us the Holy Spirit
lives in us and will help us to become more and more like Jesus, God’s Son. If we
focus on Jesus and seek to become more and more loving, our Father in heaven
will not disappoint us. So if my little exercise discouraged you, don’t let it. Instead
seek God while you are able and ask God to help you. You won’t be let down.
