Thursday, May 2, 2019

Beyond Resurrection Sunday: A Lifetime Celebration of Love


GOD's love, living the resurrection daily
Less than two weeks ago Christians world-wide celebrated the one major event in our history that separates Christianity from other religions – the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST from the dead.

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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