GOD IS LOVE Devotion 3 of 34 The affirmation "God IS love," although not synonymous with it, draws our attention to the subject of "the love of God." The love of God is obviously profound, and especially so when we when hear "God IS love." In one place, we are told that God "humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth" (Psalms 113:6). There is a certain condescension involved in the God of heaven looking into the affair of His creatures. However, nowhere is it affirmed that "God is humility." Nor, indeed, is it ever said that He "humbled Himself" to love. – Tomorrow:
"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love . . . God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:8,16)
There are some affirmations of God that point to who and what He IS. They have to do with how He has made Himself known to men. Regarding His transcendency, "God is great" (Job 36:26). Touching His uprightness, "God is holy" (Psa 99:9). Regarding His compassion toward sinful men, "God is merciful" (Psa 116:5). In all of His dealings with men, "God is righteous" (Dan 9:14). Concerning all that He has said, "God is true" (John 3:33). Respecting what He has purposed and promised, "God is faithful" (1 Cor 1:9). All of these, and more, accent Divine expression – times when God works, speaks, beholds, or purposes.
There are, however, revelations of God that have more to do with His Person than the expression of His Person. Viewing Him as completely devoid from any kind of division, discord, conflict, or confusion, it is written, "God IS one" (Deut 6:4). Because there is nothing He does not know, and nothing in His Person that does not illuminate, or is not pure and unalloyed, it is written "God IS light" (1 John 1:5). Now, in our text, John twice affirms "God IS love." He is not merely the Source of love, but is the embodiment of it. There is, in fact, no love apart from Him, just as there is no life apart from Him.
When, therefore, we read of "the love OF God," we are being subjected to expressions of His Person – to things He PREFERS and DELIGHTS to do. He is not humbling Himself to love, or stooping down to love. He is not doing something He would rather NOT do, such having to pour forth wrath rather than show mercy, which He prefers (Micah 7:18; James 2:13). Jesus humbled Himself to die. However, neither He nor God was humbled to love, even though there is a tendency to view His love toward us in this manner. To view it another way, God does not have to subdue any part of His character to love – He IS love. Love is not a quality God possesses, or an aspect of His character. "God IS love." That is vastly different from saying "God loves," or "God is loving," or "God loved." It is the former statement – "God IS love" – that gives such weight to the latter. When, therefore, we speak of "the love OF God," we being called to consider something profound, deep, and challenging to both heart and mind. We are not speaking about sentiment, or emotion, or affection as ordinarily conceived.
Hope, which sustains believers, and by which we are saved (Rom 8:24-25), does not make us ashamed or disappoint us because "the love OF God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit" (Rom 5:5). The perception of this "great love," enabled by this work of the Holy Spirit, is the catalyst for our own love for God. As it is written, "We love Him BECAUSE He first loved us" (1 John 4:19) – that is, because we SEE that fact. It simply is not possible to comprehend the love of God and not love Him in return. Those who do not love God have not perceived His love as revealed in Christ Jesus. This is a subject – the love of God – that is intended to engage both heart and mind.
One of Christ's indictments against the Pharisees was that they passed over, or disregarded, "the love of God" (Lk 11:42). Among other things, this confirms "the love of God" is a vast repository of Divine goodness. It is a rich resource from which our need is supplied. Yet, it can be completely ignored, and that by deeply religious people. It is something that is not apparent at all to the disinterested. However, if a person can get within the influence of Divine love, thorough satisfaction will be realized, and all requirements will be met. This is depicted in Zephaniah's wonderful expression. "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; HE WILL REST IN HIS LOVE, He will joy over thee with singing" (Zeph 3:17). If God can rest in His love, be sure you can do the same. It is no wonder the Lord Jesus spoke of ABIDING in God's love (John 15:10). He was speaking more of the environs we inhabit than the deeds we do. Speaking of this fundamental aspect of spiritual life, Jude admonished us, "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (Jude 21).
FOUND ONLY IN CHRIST
The love of God is an expression of His Person – an outreach of His character. With great care, the Spirit teaches us this love is realized in Christ Jesus alone. When we are found "in Christ," we have come into the domain where Divine love is personally realized: i.e., "the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom 8:39).
We cannot make too much of this. Satan has perpetrated false religion that can function without an immediate association with Jesus Christ. In it, Jesus can be treated something like an historic relic that was on earth "two thousand years ago." This pretension admits to Christ, but does not rely upon Him. It acknowledges the historicity of Christ, but does not flee to Him for refuge (Heb 6:18). Those in the grip of such delusion are described as "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof" (2 Tim 3:5). All of its talk about the love of God is pointless and vain, because it does not compel one to RELY upon the Son of God.
Without belaboring the point, this accounts for the lifelessness of much of the religion of our time. Where spiritual life is not made known, the love of God is NOT being experienced. And, where the love of God is not being experienced, there is not a reliance upon the Lord Jesus Christ. It is really that simple, and there is no need to further complicate the matter. We do want to be gracious toward people, but where God is not working, it is only because He is not welcome, loved, or trusted.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I see that Your love is far greater than I have yet comprehended. Yet, I long to see its vastness: its breadth, and length, and height, and depth. Help me to see Your love more fully that I may love You more completely.