1. Attributes Of God's Love
I don't do much shopping, but just going into the grocery store reminds me that Valentine's Day is just ahead. I feel like Christmas wasn't that long ago, and now we are a week into February. I usually like to write about love during the first weeks of the month, and there is no greater love than that of our God and Savior. Let's look at some of the attributes of God's love.
"16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18)
2. God's Love Is So Giving
We like to give to those we love. Our giving goes beyond money, because we give our love, our time, our energy, sometimes our whole being, to those we love. God gave us the ultimate gift of life. John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Later in the book of John, he writes, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) God's love is so giving, He gave His Son to die in my place. And His love didn't end at Calvary. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32) Have you accepted God's gift of love?
3. God's Love Is So Inclusive
We love our family and friends in our circle, and sometimes even that love may be tried and tested. We may even like our coworkers and neighbors. But, rarely do we love our emenies. John 3:16 assures us that God, "so loved the world,..." The "whosoever" in that verse includes all who will come to Jesus in repentance. God includes all in His great love, and He accepts us while we are still in our sin. God sent His Son to die for us while we were yet sinners. He includes us all in His great gift of salvation!
"6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:6-8)
4. God's Love Is So Compassionate
We finished our talk about "Watchman, What Of The Night", but I was happy to get an email from a dear reader, Faye Micjan. She reminded me that when the prophet Jeremiah was thrown into the prison dungeon, he could have died in the murk and the mire. But, God in His great love and compassion, sent Ebedmelech to watch over Jeremiah and rescue him. Because of the Ethiopian's love and concern in watching over God's prophet, God promised that He would deliver him out of the hand of the men of Babylon. I believe that it is through the love of God and His compassion that He places people in our lives just when we need them the most.
"6 Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.
7 Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;
8 Ebedmelech went forth out of the king's house, and spake to the king, saying,
9 My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.
10 Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.
11 So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah.
12 And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so.
13 So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison." (Jeremiah 38:6-13)
"15 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,
16 Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee.
17 But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.
18 For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD." (Jeremiah 39:15-18)
5. God's Love Is So Personal
King Solomon asked God for wisdom and God granted his desire. He was liked and well known by the world, as he married Pharoah's daughter and women of the surrounding countries. The Queen of Sheba traveled far and had great praise for King Solomon. But... not every one shared the praise for the king. After the death of King Solomon, the people came to his son, Rehoboam, who was to be king. "Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee." (I Kings 12:4) Solomon knew those who were important to him, but he didn't help those who were not. We see in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." God so loved the world! But, we come to the "whosoever" and see that God's love is also so personal! God knows me! "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (II Timothy 2:19) I don't think any really important people in the sight of the world know me, but Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and the King of Kings, and He knows my name!
"To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep." (John 10:3, 14-15)
6. God's Love Is So Precious
Wednesday night at church Michael and I sang two songs about our precious God. As I was practicing the songs before church I thought about how God's love is so precious. When we say that God's love is so precious, we are saying that it is of great value, for without it we couldn't be saved. We are also saying that God's love is precious in that it is highly esteemed. And I also feel that we can say His love is precious, just as we would describe the special love of a very dear friend. There are several verses in the Bible which tell us other ways that God is precious.
His Word is Precious.
"And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision." (I Samuel 3:1)
His Thoughts of Us are Precious.
"How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!" (Psalm 139:17)
He is the Precious Corner Stone.
"Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste." (saiah 28:16)
"Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner," (I Peter 2:6-7)
His Blood is Precious.
"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" (I Peter 1:19)
He has given us Precious Promises.
"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (II Peter 1:3-4)
7. God's Love Is So Rich In Mercy And Grace
In His loving mercy, God does not give us what we deserve. While in His loving grace, God gives us so much more than we deserve, salvation and heaven above. When we wrong others, we are afraid to go to them and ask for forgiveness. We don't know how they will react, or if they will accept us and forgive, or turn away from us in anger. When we have a need, it is often hard to ask someone for help. But, when we go to God, He gives us mercy and grace. We don't need to be afraid to pray to our Lord and Savior. I like the way the writer of Hebrews states it... "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)
"4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Ephesians 2:4-8)
8. God's Love Is So Comforting
When we experience a loss, whether it be of a loved one, a job, or a prized possession, we need comforting. When we are alone, we need comfort. When Michael was in the hospital and rehab for a month last winter, the rules due to covid meant that I could not have close contact with any of my loved ones, to reduce the chance of infecting him. There were times that I needed a shoulder to lean on, I needed words of encouragement, I needed comforting. I am thankful that I serve a God whose love is so comforting. When I am lonely, I can pray and He fills my heart with love. When I am sad or afraid, He gives me peace. When I am overwhelmed, I can turn to I Peter 5:7, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." When I am hurt or broken hearted... "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3) God gives us comfort, and we, in return, can be a comfort to others.
"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." (II Corinthians 1:3-4)
9. God's Love Is Worthy Of Our Worship
Today is the Lord's Day and I hope that you are able to go to church and worship the Lord. When I think about worship, I always think of how it will be, shared with us by John, in Revelation 5. We don't have to wait until that day to worship our Lord. We can give Him all honor and praise now, because He alone is worthy. I will be one of those "ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands."
"1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." (Revelation 5:1-13)
10. God's Love Is Worthy Of Our Time
I believe that in our fast-paced society, one of the most precious things we have is time. Each morning that we wake up we are given a set amount of time, and once the day is over, we can't replace those hours that are gone. We can't choose how we use part of the time, when we have jobs to attend, or even children or other loved ones to attend to. But, what about the time that we do have... after our necessary obligations are complete? Jesus left heaven and came to earth and spent 33 years here to live and die for us. How much time do we give to Him? Are we reading His Word and talking with Him in prayer? Do we take the Lord with us throughout our day in meditation and praise? Our time is short. Are we using it for God's glory? "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14)
11. God's Love Is Worthy Of Our Love
Let's look again at our theme verse. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) "God so loved..." and that is enough to merit our love to Him. Pastor Tripp used this verse as his text on Sunday. I want to share his outline about God's love.
1. His Love Is A Love That Is Before - "We love him, because he first loved us." (I John 4:19)
2. His Love Is A Love That Is Bestowed - "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." (I John 3:1)
3. His Love Is A Love That Is Beyond - "May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3:18-19)
12. God's Love Is Worthy Of Our Testimony And Witness
Sometimes when the Lord shows me the next theme to use, a verse will come to my mind and heart. This week I have been thinking of John 4:35, "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." I believe that our time on earth is short. What are we doing for the Lord? Our life should be a living testimony and witness for our Lord and Savior. Jesus is the Light of the world, and He is worthy that we let our light shine for His glory.
"14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)
13. God's Love Is Worthy Of Our Tithe
When we love someone we like to give something to show our love. When God gave His only begotten Son to die for us, we should be happy to give back to Him. My favorite verse about giving our tithe to the Lord is Malachi 3:10, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." We serve an amazing God who loves us dearly. He owns it all and doesn't need our tithes. But it is a blessing for us to give back to Him a portion He gives to us.
"10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof." (Psalm 50:10-12)
14. God's Love Is Worthy Of Our Gratitude
The message of Thanksgiving has been stated several times since November through these devotionals. I think that just as I believe we can celebrate the birth of our wonderful Lord all year round, we should also be thankful all year round. I was reading in Deuteronomy today and I came across a verse that showed the faithfulness of God. "A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year." (Deuteronomy 11:12) If our God watched over the land from the beginning of the year until the end of the year, don't you think He watches over us in the same way? Jesus told His disciples to consider the birds and the lilies, and how God provides for them. When we truly consider all that God does for us in His love, we see that He is so worthy of our thankfulness.
"22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Luke 12:24-31)
15. God's Love Is So Secure
To close this series I tried to think of what is so important about God's love. And I remembered the words of Jesus in John 10. We are secure in the hands of our Lord and Savior. And Jesus said that we are secure in the Father's hand! What a wonderful promise.
"27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (John 10:27-29)
Nothing can separate us from the love of God!
"35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35, 38-39)
