Section 1: God
Week 2: God Is Good
Day 1: God Is Love
1 John 4:7-12
For many of us, love is the first thing that comes to mind when we think of God’s goodness. But love can be a tricky thing to define because of the way it’s portrayed in our culture today.
God’s Love Is More Than an Emotion
A prime example of that is my 16-year-old niece who I friended on Facebook. BIG mistake. Nearly every post exudes drama and emotion. One day she’s found the boy of her dreams and waxes eloquent as she extols his virtues and expresses her undying love for him. The next day, she’s wondering how she can possibly go on with life now that she and the boy from the day before are no longer an item. It drives me crazy. My wife says I just don’t know what it’s like to be a 16-year-old girl.
For my niece, love is primarily an emotional thing. That’s an image of love many people share. However it’s a picture that doesn’t really capture the essence of what love is. It’s not that love is completely separate from emotion, but at its core love is tied to action. It involves the giving of oneself for someone else. So when we talk about God’s love, we’re talking about the fact that God always gives of himself for the benefit of others.
God’s Love Is Eternal
Note the word “always” in that last sentence. When we think of God’s love, we tend to think of God’s love for us. God, however, has always loved – even before we came into the picture. How is that possible? The Trinity. We’ll discuss the Trinity in more detail later on. For now, we simply need to remember that God exists as three persons. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have always existed in relationship with one another. As a result, love is something God has always expressed. It’s woven into the very fabric of his being. God has always loved, because he is love.
Reflection Questions:
If love is an integral part of God’s nature, could he ever do something that was unloving? What does that mean for your relationship with him?
Challenge:
Over the course of the next week, make a conscious effort each day to note at least one loving thing God has done for you.
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