This world-changer opened the door to eternal life in heaven
with GOD the Father for individuals from every nation, tongue and tribe. As we
believe and receive JESUS as Savior and LORD, by faith, we obtain new life and adoption
into the family of GOD.
Out of His love for mankind, JESUS, as GOD
incarnate, atoned for our sins, taking our place on the cross.
Believers know this saying well – “It is LOVE not nails that held JESUS to the cross.”
So, while we may shelve the rituals that go with the Easter celebrations
until next year, we ought not to forget the love that was the genesis for the
cross and resurrection.
JESUS’ glorious resurrection happened so we could live in and through GOD’s perfect LOVE.
Human love is about feelings which can change over time. And
we love most fervently and best when we receive similar or better in return.
GOD loves because GOD
is love.
Scripture is indisputable that GOD’s love is divine and unlike
human love.
These are but a few examples of the way GOD loves us.
- GOD’s love isn’t influenced
by sources outside Himself; He loves according to His own purpose and will. “God, ...saved us and made us his holy
people. That was not because of anything we did ourselves but because of God’s
purpose and grace. …” (2 Timothy 1:9)
- GOD’s love is eternal, like Himself – it just is, having no
beginning and no end, existing before Creation. “I have loved you with an everlasting love….” (Jeremiah 31:3.) Psalm
136.
- GOD’s love is sovereign, because GOD is sovereign. He’s a
law unto Himself, acting/loving out of His own good pleasure. ”Because of his love God had already decided
to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. That was what he wanted and
what pleased him.…” (Ephesians 1:4-5)
- GOD’s love is immutable, like Himself; it does not and
cannot change – there is no variation
or shifting due to change with GOD’s love. “…Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us..!.” (Romans 8:38-39)
- GOD’s love is a holy and pure love, unmixed with
sentimentality. Because of His holiness GOD does not ignore our sin but disciplines the one he loves, and chastises
every son whom he receives. (Hebrews
12:6)
- GOD’s love is grace-filled and inseparable from His favor. Grace-filled love nailed JESUS to the cross (John 3:16.) “…He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all…” (Romans 8:32.)
Like His other attributes – His knowledge, His wisdom, His power, His goodness, His grace and mercy, His faithfulness – GOD’s love is infinite. It cannot be measured or compared against anything of human understanding.
CHRIST died and was resurrected not so that GOD would love
us but because GOD already loved us (John
3:16.) Because GOD can deny nothing of Himself, He cannot stop loving.
That GOD cannot stop loving those who are His own (John 13:1) is very good news for us as imperfect mortals.
This divine and grace-filled love is why every believer can celebrate
JESUS’ glorious resurrection daily, and thank GOD for His gift that
is too wonderful for words!! (2 Corinthians 9:15.)
Prayer and Thanksgiving: Our Holy
GOD and Father, all praise honor and glory to YOUR NAME! Thank YOU that YOU don’t
only “love,” but that YOU are “LOVE.” Forgive us for talking much about love when
we are so often total strangers to the GOD of love. Teach us to celebrate YOUR
love daily and give us holy boldness the share with others the GIFT it gave to
the world in JESUS CHRIST. To YOU belong all
dominion, all power and all glory, for ever and ever. We pray and ask all
things in the matchless Name of JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen!
Always by God’s Word and prayer,
Cecile
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