Men of different ages, clime, and times have defined and worshiped God differently based on their understanding of Him or the lack of it. Many words have been used to describe God based on men’s understanding of Him, ranging from Provider to healer, merciful, and even warrior. The entire bible portrays records of the encounters of men with God; however, not until we read of David do we begin to see God reflected as a person of love. David so much saw the love of God that he said, “For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”. Nonetheless, this description of God’s love pales considerably compared to the explicit statement in John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Proper understanding of the Person of God only begins with a genuine realization of His love. We only begin to know Him when we reach that haha! moment, when we stand awestruck, wide-eyed, staring at Love as revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. For not only does God love, He is love Himself. And if we will closely consider His relationship and dealings with men right from inception, we will see a consistent, unwavering pattern of love, expressed to different men at different times in different ways. For wasn’t even our creation and endowment so unique that David could not but exclaim in Psalm 8:4; “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?”. And He indeed is so mindful. So mindful of having made available all that we would ever need even before we were made. So mindful was God that He placed us in the center of His will, empowered us, and gave us dominion over all that He made.
Unfortunately, to the guilty, evil-conscious human mind, God’s love is often difficult to understand, largely inconceivable. We would more readily see Him as that demanding God of judgment, sitting on His throne with a rod in His hands and a scowl on His face, ready to smite us at the slightest mistake. We would rather see God as the all-powerful being that, if begged enough, might just answer our prayers. However, while God is indeed a God of judgment and a great provider, He is a God of love. God is so loving that all He does to man is an expression of His love. Even His chastisement and judgment speak of love.
The love of God is most explicitly expressed in the person of Christ. God’s love is such that He would not leave us hopeless in our fallen state and would go as far as to sacrifice His own son for us. The creator Himself dying for creation. The birth of Jesus, His ministry, and death all speak of the love of God. The promise and outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost also speaks of the Love of God, His desire not to leave us “comfortless.” Unlike the slavemaster we often take God to be, He sees and understands our weaknesses and struggles and has already made provision for them. For the bible affirms in Heb.4.15 that “… we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”. He helps us fulfill His will by supplying Grace.
Understanding the Love of God
As stated earlier, we only truly begin to know God when we understand His love for us. For how can we or please One we do not know. Hence, a clear understanding of the Love of God is a must-have for any true believer. It should form the foundation upon which we build our walk with God, for God himself is love. The lack of this understanding can be responsible for the many imbalances in Christians and denominations. Many Christians have laid their foundation on the understanding of God’s judgment and so walk perpetually in fear of the wrath of God. Some others have laid theirs on the understanding of God as a provider and, as such, are eternal seekers of the hand of God and never His heart or will. However, God desires first and foremost for us to walk in the understanding of His eternal love for us and to replicate His love on earth.
Understanding the Love of God begins with an encounter with the person of Christ, understanding His mission and its significance to us as Christians. Jesus is the epistle of God’s love to man. His lowly birth, conduct on earth, and death speak of love. His mission is Love in that He came to bring us into His position as the only begotten son of God, and as He traded His life on the Cross, we became sons and coheirs of God. This could have only been possible through “…Him who knew no sin..” becoming sin for us “…that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Expressions of the Love of God
- Care – right from inception, God has proven Himself to be greatly concerned with the well-being of man. For ages past, He still continues to care for men, generously sending His rain and Sunshine upon all and sundry, perpetually providing for the needs of those who call upon Him and many more.
- Communion – God, unlike some earthly fathers, doesn’t just provide and leave us alone. Instead, he desires to commune with men. Starting with those precious moments of fellowship in the garden of Eden before the fall of man, God has always reached out to men of every age and time for fellowship.
- Discipline – right at the center of God’s perfect love is the reality of His discipline. God chastens those whom He loves. Hebrews 12:5-7 exhorts, “… My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives…” The divine discipline of God is intended to help the people of God grow in a relationship with our heavenly Father. Revelation 3:19 states, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.”
- In his epistle to the Romans, Eternal Security of His Own- Paul writes about the love of God and how the Christian is held secure in His sovereign hands even till the very end. This is an exclusive privilege for the sons of God. Only those who are indeed Christ’s will be held until the end, for they have true faith in Him. Although trying times may come, and the storms of life may assail them, as long as we belong to Christ, we are held by Him and will belong to Him always. These biblical truths are what anchor Christians to their God and cause them to draw near humbly to the throne of God to know and grow in the love of God.
Significance of Understanding the love of God
- Helps us Love others as we ought to -Love is essential to the nature of God and to those who have become partakers of the new nature, the sons of God. They alone can increasingly reflect God’s holy and loving character and genuinely love others as they ought to. The transformed hearts of Christians respond to the call of God to love one another.
- Banishes fear – a thorough understanding of the love of God banishes fear and enables us to walk with God as we ought to. For what amazing love it is that “while we were yet sinners (unworthy and undeserving), Christ died for us. He imputed righteousness when we weren’t even asking and totally changed our states, elevating us to sit with God in heavenly places. We became citizens of heaven, carriers of the Spirit of God, and custodians of his mysteries. And for this reason, we should no longer walk in fear, for in our lives, the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry “Abba Father!”.
- Helps us fulfill God’s Will – God’s wonderful love changes and redefines our destiny. Through redemption, He has transformed our purpose and desires that we may no more run after vain fleshly things but live to fulfill our rightful purpose. We have been given the great commission that we live our lives loving and seeking God, fulfilling His will, and establishing heaven on earth. And for all of these incredible blessings and many more, God has charged no fee but has promised His ever-abiding presence and help even until the end of time.