God is Love
Lamentations 3:22 - "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail" (NIV).
Hosea 11:4 - "I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them" (NIV).
1 John 3:1 - "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him" (NIV).
1 John 3:16 - "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers" (NIV).
1 John 4:16b - "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them" (NIV).
God is love. Everything He does and says is motivated out of love. His love is different than the love the world offers. The love of the world is temporal, conditional and ultimately, self-centred. The Father, however, always chooses the highest good for His children. At His own expense, He does what is best for us. God not only tells us that He loves us, but He demonstrates it in action. "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us" (1 John 3:16). God's love is persevering. Even when His love is rejected over and over, He keeps giving and inviting relationship with us. He will not be put off (Hosea 1-3). God's love is also unconditional. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). He loved us even when we were unlovable. Even today, He still loves us completely - 100% - though we don't deserve it. In fact, nothing can separate us from His love (Rom. 8:38-39). It is fierce and strong.
For More Study
Thoughts and Questions for Application
Memorization
Romans 8:37-39 - "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (NIV).
Hosea 11:4 - "I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them" (NIV).
1 John 3:1 - "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him" (NIV).
1 John 3:16 - "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers" (NIV).
1 John 4:16b - "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them" (NIV).
God is love. Everything He does and says is motivated out of love. His love is different than the love the world offers. The love of the world is temporal, conditional and ultimately, self-centred. The Father, however, always chooses the highest good for His children. At His own expense, He does what is best for us. God not only tells us that He loves us, but He demonstrates it in action. "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us" (1 John 3:16). God's love is persevering. Even when His love is rejected over and over, He keeps giving and inviting relationship with us. He will not be put off (Hosea 1-3). God's love is also unconditional. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). He loved us even when we were unlovable. Even today, He still loves us completely - 100% - though we don't deserve it. In fact, nothing can separate us from His love (Rom. 8:38-39). It is fierce and strong.
For More Study
- Hosea 11:1-9
- John 17:20-26
- Romans 8:15-39
- 1 Cor. 13
- Ephesians 3:14-21
- 1 John 4:7-21
Thoughts and Questions for Application
- What are the differences between the love of God and the love of the world?
- It is only when we have experienced the love of God that we will be able to give it out. How have you experienced the love of God? Do you want to experience more of His love?
- Jesus calls us to love one another, as He has loved us (1 John 4:7-21). Is your love persevering and unconditional with other people, the way His love is?
- Take some time to ask God for a greater revelation and experience of His personal love for you. Then, ask Him to show you specifically how to love those around you like He does.
Memorization
Romans 8:37-39 - "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (NIV).
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