Oh, love of God, how rich and pure.
How measureless and strong.
It shall forevermore endure —
the saints’ and angels’ song.
That song, written by Frederick M. Lehman in 1917, sums up the impact that God’s love has on the believer. We can never hope to suitably express our thanks to God for sending His Son to die for us. But as the ages carry on, we will sing His praises.
This month, we celebrate the loves of our lives, so let’s look at the matchless, enduring
love of God for His children and examine how we should be loving Him in return.
God’s love is a transforming phenomenon. When God saves our souls, we are compelled
to live for Him … sacrifice and forsake all for Him … and to share His love with others.
When we experience His love through salvation, our lives are forever altered, and our actions
become expressions of our love for the One who died and rose again so that we may have
eternal life.
In Romans 5:8, Paul writes, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (NKJV).
God didn’t love us and save us because we were lovable. He loved us despite our sinfulness and our nature that desires sin.
The Liberty Bible Commentary gives a clear picture of the importance of this verse, saying, “When Paul said that Christ died for the ungodly, he was indicating that the Lord did not die for those who were simply void of morality but for those who were actively opposed to God.”
That is you and that is me. We were apart from God, dead in our sin, and yet He loved us beyond all understanding.
In verse 7 of this passage, Paul notes that not even beloved individuals are likely to find someone who will lay down their life for him/her. But God sent His Son to die in our stead even amid our darkest sin. We were shameful opponents of God, yet Jesus came. What a Savior!
In Galatians 2:20, we read this: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
I think one of Paul’s great expressions is that God’s Son “gave Himself for me.”
I often try to imagine Jesus leaving the unspeakable splendors of heaven to come to this sin-scarred earth so that He could suffer and die for you and for me. It astounds me … always.
How can we not love Him in return?
How can we not forsake all to serve Him?
Theologian A.W. Tozier said, “The great of this world are those who simply loved God more than others did.”
I don’t desire worldly greatness. But I long to be great for God. I want to make disciples who serve Jesus … to help people deeply grow in their faith in Him … to win crowns in this life so that I can some day lay them down before Him in that great land.
I John 3:1 says, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”
And here we see the tricky element in loving God: We live in a world that does not understand God’s love. And yet, we must carry on preaching the Risen Christ to those who may even despise our message.
Living for Christ means we must often put aside our own interests to make time for ministry. These projects, which we call missional communities, are very powerful and give us new opportunities to represent Jesus to our neighbors and friends. And that’s what it’s all about.
Loving the Lord is wonderful, but it will often cost us. He asks a lot of us, but how can we say “No” to Him?
I am so thankful you continue to stand with me in this ministry as we reach out to lost people. Never forget what Romans 8:28 tells us: that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Let’s remain focused on His purpose by serving Him with all our hearts, minds and beings.
Your friend in Christ,
Jonathan Falwell