It’s February, and that usually means that red, pink, and heart-shaped objects rule the day. People are buying candy and flowers left and right, and folks are already browsing their movie collections for their favorite romantic movies to watch. Valentine’s Day is a day celebrating love, and it presents the opportunity not only to celebrate those we love, but also to celebrate love in general. But when we think of love, what do we think of first? Hearts? Romantic comedies? Greeting cards?
What about the One who created love…who is love?
Now, when it comes to His love for us, it’s truly hard to put it into words. It’s difficult to place God’s love in any sort of parameters…but I like to think that it’s supposed to be that way. His love is truly unsearchable – unfathomable – but we’re never weary (Isaiah 40:38). So, let’s use this post to talk about God and love in three aspects.
He is love.
Jesus was there with His Father before the world began. And as such, He knew us when we were created and born. Then, He loved us so much that He died on the cross to save us from sin and eternity separate from Him (John 3:16), and now He intercedes for us on our behalf. That’s not only the basic message of the Gospel, but it’s also both the simplest and the ultimate testament to how much He loves us, because He Himself is love. “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8).
Once we realize this, it’s up to us to discover how He loves by studying His Word and how we should love by His example.
He exudes love.
In addition to saving us from sin and death, God exuded His love from the beginning when He created the world and when He created mankind in His image (Genesis 1:27). Then, when Jesus came to earth, He exuded love through His service and ministry. And alongside the Father and Son, the Spirit showered new Christians with love and power when they were added to His Church, revealing Himself in ways unexpected (Acts 2:1-12).
This exuding and outward show of love, I feel, is a means for Him to pursue us lovingly in order to have a personal relationship with us. He handcrafted a story for each of us – His will – and He longs for us to follow it and to take up our crosses and follow Him (Luke 9:23). Everything He has done for us has been in our best interest, and even when it’s hard to wait on Him, we’re encouraged to do so (Psalm 27:14), because His promises are unchanging and infallible (2 Corinthians 7:1).
He sets an example for us to love.
Because He is love, and He exudes love, He also serves as an example for us to imitate when we love others.
Jesus showed His disciples how to love through service when He washed their feet (John 13:1-20), and He taught Mary and Martha that there were certain times and places to either serve or be served, especially when it came to spiritual matters (Luke 10:38-42). And because He gave His life to save us, we should give our lives to Him and place our trust in Him.
We can love through service to others, or we can love simply by being there for someone. All that it truly takes is to put the other person’s interests before your own.
I want you to try something with me. Read through 1 Corinthians 13:4-6. Then, read it again, and replace “love” with your own name. This is one method that can be helpful in checking your spiritual well-being as far as love is concerned. Are you patient? Are you kind?
While nobody is perfect, it’s always good to self-evaluate and see where you are and how you can grow in your relationship with God.
When all is said and done, love is incredible. We can share it and show it as Christ did. And here’s the cool part: Christ loves the Church as a groom loves his bride (Ephesians 5:25). And He was already there before we were formed, and we are assured that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
We can rely on His love, and that’s something worth sharing and celebrating.
By Savannah Cottrell
