We are told in 1 John 4:19 that, “We love each other because He loved us first” (NLT). As God is the greatest teacher, He had to show us the way to love first before sending us out to love others. Why do you think we love God, our spouses, or even our enemies? It is because God first loved us. He demonstrated this love to us by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ to die for us on the cross of Calvary. If God didn’t love us, and willingly sent His Son to die for humanity, that would have been the greatest scandal ever known to man.
Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me
You have been so, so good to me
Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me
You have been so, so kind to me
The word “love,” what does it really mean? Merriam Webster dictionary defines love as “unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another.” Oxford dictionary defines it as “A great interest and pleasure in something.” Some have even described love as something humans can’t live without. We’ve read countless books on love and watched so many movies on the subject, but still can’t come to an agreement on what that term means. Surprising, eh?
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it. Still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah
We are taught that God is love. We were taught that you and I were sinners. We were alienated from God. We rebelled against God. We sinned against God. We became enemies of God. But the Bible says that God still loved us with an EVERLASTING LOVE in spite of our sins, in spite of our rebellious nature, in spite of us turning our backs on Him. Don’t let anyone fool you, no one has the power to love the way God loves us, except that person is in Christ. For without Christ, we can do nothing, including love.
When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me
You have been so, so good to me
When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me
You have been so, so kind to me
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wrong. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance”. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT). If you want to learn to love people, the way Apostle Paul said, you’ve got to understand the way God showered His love on you. When you understand that love, you’ll start forgiving people that wronged you, like the driver that cuts you off on your way to work on a Monday morning. You won’t be getting angry at that McDonald’s employee for not giving you extra sauce.
There’s no shadow You won’t light up
Mountain You won’t climb up
Coming after me
There’s no wall You won’t kick down
Lie You won’t tear down
Coming after me
It doesn’t matter the nature of your sin, God still loves you. He chose you. His love for you is immeasurable, unmistakable, and unending. We may feel that we are living a morally decent life, but when we compare this life to the life God wants for us, we will then realize how dirty and filthy we are. In spite of it all, He still loves us. God sending His Son to pay our debt, tells of His immeasurable love for us. “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow- not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below- indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)
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I love that verse! We don’t leave each only as we love ourselves, but more importantly, we love each other as God has loved us. Far greater than we could love even ourselves!
Yes! Yes! Yes! His love for us paved the way for us to love others. Thanks for your input. 👊
I love it! The gospel of John is a masterpiece!
For without Christ, we can do nothing, including love. Excellent! Thank you for the reminder. In John 15 it says, only as we abide in Jesus (the vine) can we bear fruit, which includes love, otherwise we can do nothing.
You’re absolutely correct, Joyce. Whatever we try to do without Christ, will only be done in vain. That includes loving others. Thanks for your input 🤗
I love this song, but I do not think God’s love is reckless. Reckless means “done without thinking or caring about the consequences of an action.” The Bible says that while we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us. That was no reckless act. God knew from the very beginning of time that He would provide for our salvation.
I understand what you mean, Cathy, and I do love your rationale. But to human perspective, God’s love is indeed reckless. I mean, would you fight for, and give your life for that of your enemy? I’ll let you answer that yourself. But Jesus Christ did. God gave up His ONLY Son, (Jesus Christ) to die for sinners (you and I), while we were still bad people. He did this not caring that many would still reject Him. To me, this is what perfect, relentless, powerful, unconditional love is. God’s love for us is indeed RECKLESS.
Thanks for following my blog; you are very kind.
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Thank “you”