Saturday, March 4, 2017

Unconditional, Inexhaustible LOVE

We recently celebrated Valentine's Day - the one day in the year that the world sets aside to remind us to express our love...

Someone once asked a prolific author on Bible doctrine, “What is the most profound theological truth in the Scriptures?” He thought for a moment and simply replied quoting the lines of Anna B. Warner, “Jesus loves me, this I know for the Bible tells me so.”

How often do we take this profound truth for granted? God’s love is unconditional and inexhaustible. His love is more than enough for everyone in the world, and it is amazing to know (as we read in the Bible) that there is nothing that will lessen, reduce, or minimize that love!

God is love and He proved His love for us in that He gave His One and only Son, Jesus for our wrongdoings so that we can have the opportunity to choose Him. For it is written in the Bible, and how true it is, that “We love Him because He first loved us” (John 1:19). In other words, our love toward God and others is simply a response to His great love toward us. We simply become a channel of God’s love to others.

God is the author and perfector of perfect love. When a loved one expresses love towards us, our natural response is to return love. That is how it is with God and us.

The English language provides just one word for a myriad of different types of 'love'. Yet, the Hebrew and Greek languages provide us with specific terms for specific meanings of the different types of love.

One type of love is 'Agape' (pronounced 'R-gar-pay') love. It is the highest form of love. It is God's love. God demonstrates His own love for us in this: (that) while we were still sinners, Christ died for us' ~Romans 5:7-8.

We can never repay Him for that. What we can and ought do is accept Him into our heart and life and honour Him in the way we live. "...By your love I am accepted; You're a good and gracious King..."

'Good and Gracious King', by CityAlight, from St Paul's (Church) Castle Hill (Sydney), Australia.



I approach the throne of glory
Nothing in my hands I bring
But the promise of acceptance
From a good and gracious King
... You deserve the greater glory
 Overcome, I lift my voice
To the King in need of nothing
Empty handed I rejoice

You deserve the greater glory
Overcome with joy I sing
By Your love I am accepted
You’re a good and gracious King
... 
*emphasis mine

Time is racing along! It is my prayer as you listen and meditate on the lyrics of the song and the Scriptures quoted above, that your heart and life may be enriched by the knowledge and acceptance of the unconditional, inexhaustible love of God.

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