God is Loving
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Nothing God ever does, or ever did, or ever will do, is separate from the love of God.” – A.W Tozer[/perfectpullquote]The first letter of John to the churches defines love as being the primary attribute of God that we must embrace as we do life together. In 1 John 4:8, the loving character of God is defined: “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Paul tells us in Galatians 5, that love is a spiritual fruit that emerges and grows as we live in relationship with God. He also gives a very detailed list of what love is and is not (I Corinthians 13). When God sent his Son to the world on a journey to a brutal cross it was driven by love. Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment in the upper room. He told them that they should “love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35) Jesus explained to them at that moment that there love for each other would be a catalyst for changing the world by drawing people to Him. Their love for each other would reflect the character of God. Many years ago at a marriage conference, I had the privilege of hearing Gary Smalley define true authentic agape love. Love, he declared that was needed to succeed in any relationship.
The one moment I remembered is when he said something like this, “You cannot hope to succeed in any relationship with your own measly love. It is the love of God that is the foundation of any successful relationship.” In Ephesians 5, Paul clarifies this for husbands when he uses the word agapao’ multiple times to describe the love of a husband for his wife. When you do a word study of agapao’ you see that definition of the word boils down to “living in Christ.” When Paul writes about marriage he continues to point back to the calling of a husband and wife and what God prefers as they love each other living life in Christ together. One of the greatest privileges I have had is to be a Father. I remember the day Robbie arrived in our lives on a cold February day in Nashville. I held him for the first time, and I already loved Him. How did that happen? What led to that immediate connection? It was the agape love that was present in my life because of my relationship with God. There is no way I had the ability to love this kid crying in my arms without the power of God and His love flowing through me. I see that in my marriage where God has blessed me with a wife who loves me unconditionally driven by the same love that can only be a product of a relationship with God.
On Thursday’s at 10:30 you can find a group of men on zoom, studying the word of God together. We started reading together at Genesis 1, and yesterday we worked our way through Psalms 21-22. Some of the greatest conversations I have had about scripture have occurred while studying with these men. At the end of our time together every week I take prayer requests. I am always encouraged as I see many of the men writing the requests down, so they can pray for each other that next week. It is a group where I feel the authentic love of God as they share the needs of their neighbors, families, and personal struggles they may be having. The group is so eclectic, but we are a brotherhood that has deepened our relationships through many hours studying the word of God together, and we truly love each other!
In the late 19th century Frederick Lehman, a businessman in a tough season, wrote a hymn that defines the love of God in such an incredible way. The last verse and chorus of “The Love of God is Greater Far” are amazing in how they describe the endless love of God.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song. [/perfectpullquote]
