Albert Dickson
Understanding the Love of God
Today when we think of love, we usually have the western culture idea. We think love is kissing and hugging. We say we are in love because he or she looks attractive. Or we have this giddy feeling inside and we think this is love. Some have even said, "I have fallen in love."
Inspite of our western idea, God expresses true love and teaches us what love is and how to love. Love is caring and giving of something that is precious and dear to us: our life! This is what God did when He gave His Son, Jesus.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
The key words of this passage are "gave and begotten." God gave something or someone to express His love for the world. He gave His Son, the only one of His kind. There was no else like Him, but God gave Him to save a lost and dying world.
Jesus possessing the same Spirit as His Father said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's live for his friends." (John 15:13) There is no greater than love than to give up one's life for another. When this is done, your love is not greater, but equal to what love is.
The consistency of love is expressed in the marriage relationship. Marriage is the closest relationship that two human beings can have. This relationship depicts the relationship that God has with His people. Paul, guided by the Spirit, instructed the Christian men to love their wives. The standard of their love is the love that Christ has for His church. His love was expressed by giving Himself up for it (Ephesians 5:25). Therefore, for husbands to love their wives, they must give up self. Let this also be a lesson to the young ladies. If a man is unwilling to marry you or give up self for you, he does not love you. Do not give of yourself until he gives up himself for you.
The Love of God Brings Obligations
The apostle John, guided by the Spirit, wrote to a group of Christian to help them understand this important idea about the love of God. He says that we know love by the action of Christ who laid His life for us. By this action, it obligates those who are of God to lay down their lives for one another (1 John 3:16,17). The task of God's people is to emulate their Lord.
Just as our earthly family brings on responsibilities, so does our spiritual family. If a brother lacks anything and we see his needs, we are to meet those needs. We are to do good to all men especially the household of faith (Galatians 6:10). This is an obligation for all Christians.
The Love of God Prompts One to Obey Him
Jesus told His disciples that if they love Him they would keep His commandments (John 14:23). By their actions they would show that they have the love of God. How can this be love you may ask? What, no hugging and kissing? When we have the love of God, it could mean the love that God has or the love we have for God. When it comes to our obedience to Him, it is the love we have for Him. Seeing the love of God in action for sinful man should prompt us to trust and love Him. We know that. He has our best interest in mind.
Our standard of love should be that of God. It is to be our drive shaft. Using faith to put this drive shaft in gear, we will achieve the goal, heaven. In other words, we will be actively obeying the Lord. Understanding the love God will motivate us to do all that we can for Him because He loves us. Paul was motivated to the point of being poured as a drink offering on the altar (2 Timothy 4:6).
Do you know what is the love of God? Are you motivated to give your all for the sake of Christ? If you are not compelled to serve God with all your might, you lack the drive shaft of God's love. You are implored to study your Bible and renew your fervor for the Lord.