Today’s Reading:
1 Corinthians 13: 1-13
Isaiah 9:6
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
One of the natures of God that transforms into one of His Names is LOVE. 1 John 4:8 - “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” Love is an attribute of God. All He does for us is out of love. He cannot and does not do wrong. His display of love is the purest and truest one. He loves perfectly. We can rely on Him because of His love for us.
Why do we hold on to that Name: LOVE?
We can trust in God’s love. Why? 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a - gives several descriptions of what love is: Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. At the core of these qualities is the unwavering and unfailing aspect of love that is unfathomable. God has proven this nature of His to humanity throughout the ages. He has maintained this nature in His unwavering relationship with man. Even in our sinfulness, God continued to maintain patience with us and show us mercy. When Adam and Eve sinned, before they were driven out of the Garden of Eden, God lovingly provided covering for their nakedness. Even throughout the Israelites’ rebellion, God maintained His covenant relationships with them. In the book of Jonah, when Jonah fled from the Lord, was thrown into the sea, God delivered him from death through the big fish (Jonah Chapters 1& 2). By looking at the faithfulness of God’s love throughout history, we can trust that He will continue to act accordingly in our lives.
Our salvation is an expression of God’s love. The greatest demonstration of God’s love was this gift of His Only Son. (John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life), God did not send Jesus Christ as a reward to obedience, but rather as a ransom for the defiant. We see Jesus display His love throughout His life and ministry on earth. He healed the sick without justification or requirement of gratitude. He displayed humility even though He is eternally King of Kings. While on the cross, Jesus prayed for the forgiveness of the ones who placed Him there. (1John 3:16a: By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.) God’s love does not discriminate. (Romans 5:8: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us).
Our ability to love is enabled through God’s love. Jesus set for us the example to love and gives the command to follow in His example (John 13:34-35; A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.). When Jesus washed His disciples’ feet in John 13:1-17, He took the role of a servant and placed the needs of others above His own dignity. He did this as an expression of love and service. It is a great example for us to emulate. Jesus is love personified, love incarnate. He is what love looks like alive. This is not love as we see it today, a mere emotion, but true love. For Him to wash the feet of His disciples is powerful. It takes perfect love to do something like that. He instructed His followers to do the same. He tells us to love our neighbours as well as our enemies. Yet, this task is not burdensome, for love is a fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23a - “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. When we rest and abide in God, His love in us outpours unto others. It is through our love that the world will know that we belong to Christ.
We can rest in God’s love. Because God’s nature is love, His love is unconditional. As He knew before creation that we would be disobedient, He chose a path to save us from our sins (Ephesians 1:4-5: just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will). This gives us hope as His children. We do not have to view God as “The Punisher,” but rather as our Heavenly Father who has a plan and purpose for our lives. Jesus personified this message and called people into rest. In Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”. When we recognise that Christ is our Advocate, we can rest in assurance of God’s love.
We can have confidence in God’s love. Psalm 136 beautifully describes the love of God as unfailing. Here, the psalmist recalls several times (26) how in His sovereignty, and magnanimous mercy, the Lord upholds His people in love. As we look back upon His loving faithfulness from the beginning of time, we can grow in our assurance that God will continue to vindicate His children and promote His kingdom until His plan and purpose comes to full fruition.
What should be our response to His love?
Through Salvation we come to a perspective of how LOVE is revealed. Therefore, our response to this God kind of love is - we must show love to Him and others. Love starts with God and ends with God because God is love. (1 John 4:7-8: Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.) God is Love, and because we are made in God’s image, we should be able to love like Him. His kind of love is not Phileo (conditional e.g. between friends) but Agape love; unconditional. It is supernatural. For the kind of love that God calls us to is the love that loves our neighbour as much as we love ourselves– (e.g. if you love your neighbour, you won’t steal from him/her, you will not be wicked to him/her, etc). However, we cannot love like that without first being born of God. We must cast away our sinful nature (Ephesians 4: 22-24). There is the need for the mind to be renewed first; (Romans 12:2 – “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.) Our rest in God never finds its fulfilment in ourselves but always leads us out of ourselves towards him and towards others. The love of God is to be learnt from His Word; the Bible as well lived for all to see. The love of God for us begets love in us for Him and for others. To appreciate His love this season, bring someone to His love.
Christ is stretching out His loving Hands unto you today. Beloved, it does not matter how filthy you are, Jesus has come to seek you, to accept you with a “hug” and give you a new beginning. If you are depressed and feeling unloved, try Him today and you will experience something new. If you are yet to know Him, be connected to Him now - (Revelation 3:20: Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.)
IRETI SOLOLA
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.”
If you said the prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and meet the resident reverend, pastor or priest.
Prayer:
Father, You are Love, please send Your love to dry up every worldly water flowing in my life in the name of Jesus.
Father, By Your name which is LOVE; open the fountain of true love into the wilderness of lovelessness operating in my life in Jesus’ name.
Father, make me a living proof of Your wealth of LOVE for the world around me to read like a book, in the name of Jesus.
Father, by the Love overflowing in my life, release abundant grace for me to be a soul winner in Jesus’ name.
Father, by Your love let there be absolute unity in the body of Christ in Jesus’ name.
Father, release Your abundant love over my nation in the name of Jesus.
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