GOD IS LOVE Devotion 29 of 34 THE LAW Under the Law, the primary thing was the duty of man. Thus the first and great commandment was to "love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength" – it was the duty of man to do so (Deut 6:5). The whole Law was, in a sense, an exposition of that commandment. Nine times in the book of Deuteronomy, the people were reminded of their obligation to love God (6:5; 11:1,13,22; 13:3; 19:9; 30:6.16.20). The thrust of the Law, therefore, was an obligation placed upon men to love God. It should not surprise you that some are still placing the stress upon this obligation. THE GOSPEL Our text affirms that "we love Him BECAUSE He FIRST loved us." Because of this reality, THE GOSPEL ACCENTUATES GOD'S LOVE FOR US. It is a declaration of an existing love, not the imposition of a required one. Over and over we are apprised of Divine love toward us. "God SO LOVED the world . . . we are more than conquerors through Him that LOVED US . . . the Son of God who LOVED ME and gave Himself for me . . . But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He LOVED US . . . Christ also hath LOVED US , and hath given himself for us . . . God, even our Father, which hath LOVED US . . . He LOVED US , and sent His Son if God so LOVED US . . . Unto Him that LOVED US " (John 3:16; Rom 8:37; Gal 2:20; Eph 2:4; 5:2; 2 Thess 2:16; 1 John 4:10,11; Rev 1:5). THE EPHESIAN CHURCH The Ephesians had a noble beginning, receiving the Gospel of their salvation joyfully, and being sealed with the Holy spirit of promise (Eph 1:13-14). But before too many years passed, Jesus Himself said to them, "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love" (Rev 2:4). NOT IRRELEVANT If it is true that "we love Him BECAUSE He first loved us," then a waning of our love can ONLY come when His love for us is diminished in our thinking. A failure to love God cannot exist unless its CAUSE is neglected. When love is waxing cold, the Lord Jesus is being forgotten. Our message, like that of the Apostles, must emphasize the love God has shown toward us in Christ Jesus. That is the melody of all true preaching. – 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 4:9,16)
"We love Him because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19)
What can a soul do that is ruled by fear, and in whom the love of God has not been perfected?
Here the Spirit gives us a sweet elixir of hope. He does not shout at us to work more energetically on our love. Nor, indeed, does He set before us Divine rejection, making us to fear the more. Rather, He gives us the secret to loving God and loving His people. Such love is an EFFECT, not a cause. The well from which this love is drawn is God's own love for us. "We love Him BECAUSE He first loved us."
It is the perception, or belief, of God's love for us that produces our love for Him. What, then, ought to be the focus of true religion? Is it proper to place stress upon the river, or one of its many tributaries? Ought the accentuation to be the well, or one of the vessels of water drawn from it? Is the source the proper accent, or the benefits coming from it? Should the emphasis be placed upon us loving God, or upon God loving us?
Right here we come into sharp conflict with a lot of professed Christianity. It seems to me that God and His great love has been upstaged by subordinate matters, and such things should not be – not in view of the staggering investment God has made in our salvation.
Too often, those representing Christ speak as though this was a proper message for the church – "love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength." They speak to believers as though they did NOT love God, seeking to constrain them to love Him out of a sense of obligation. This is altogether out of order. I understand that, from one point of view, it is indeed the obligation of men to love God – not partially, but with their whole being. Israel had that commandment, and did not do well keeping it. As a commandment, the professed church has not done much better.
As that Gospel is preached in power, and when it is believed, it causes us to love God – for the Gospel of Christ IS THE POWER OF GOD unto salvation (Rom 1:16). When the Gospel is believed, we WILL love Him because He first loved us. That is why the Gospel must never be shelved by the church in the interest of other things. No other message must be allowed to gain the prominence afforded to the Gospel alone. Should that ever take place, our love for God will wane. In fact, that is exactly what happened to the church at Ephesus.
They had carefully tested the false apostles and found them to be liars. They had also labored indefatigably for Christ. Yet, they abandoned their "first love." And why so? It could only be that their attention had been turned from the Gospel to other matters. Perhaps they had become more focused on identifying false prophets than on perceiving the Savior.
Now examine your own heart and see if it is not true. If you love God, you already know it is because God first loved you, and you have seen it.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the nature of Your great love. It has produced results in me that are satisfying to my heart, and honoring of Your name.