“Behold, what manner of love the Father has given unto us that we should
be called the sons of God” - I John 3:1
John was so fascinated by this story of love that somewhere in the middle of
his letter He made the statement above. I did catch a glimpse of what John felt
this morning as I wrote this after reading the first book written by Paul to
the Ephesians and meditating on the words.
Paul spoke about Predestination, the inheritance prepared for us, the
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sin, the riches (richness) of
God's grace. When we tie all of this together what we have is the greatest love
of all and the greatest love story ever told.
As we exchange gifts this season with family, friends, strangers and work
colleagues, my prayer is for you to experience this unparalleled love, the most
precious gift of all.
Transcending Time: The Genesis of Love
Imagine God, before time began, seeing all of His creation, seeing the end
from the beginning, seeing all that will happen, the suffering, the chaos, the
many battles and wars, the different eras but still choosing to go ahead with
creating time and creation because He made up His mind that will not prevent
Him from sharing with us all the gift of love.
That is the love that we have and that is who God is. God is Love.
He refused to allow nothing prevent Him from showing His love to us all.
Envision the vast expanse before time itself was born, where God, in His
omnipresence, gazes upon the tapestry of creation – a canvas yet to be painted.
He perceives every moment, from the nascent stirrings of the universe to the
myriad epochs that will unfold. Amidst this prescient vision, He sees the
tumults of human history: the anguish, the disorder, the relentless conflicts,
and the unfolding of countless ages.
Yet, within this foresight, lies a steadfast resolve. Despite foreseeing
the trials and tribulations, God chooses to breathe life into time and
existence. It's a decision fuelled not by naivety but by an unfathomable love,
a love willing to embrace creation in its entirety, with all its inherent
imperfections and beauty.
This love, boundless and eternal, forms the very essence of God’s being.
It is not deterred by the shadows of suffering or the Specters of chaos.
Instead, it emerges as a beacon, a guiding light offering redemption and hope
amidst the vicissitudes of life. God, in His infinite love, chooses not to be a
distant observer but an active participant in the narrative of creation.
In this act of divine inception, love becomes more than a mere sentiment;
it transforms into the foundational principle of existence. A love that refuses
to yield to the barriers of time, to the ravages of history, or to the
uncertainties of the future. It is a love that transcends, enduring and
ever-present, inviting us to partake in its boundless grace.
An Active Kind of Love
So He set His plan in motion, created man, gave Him freewill, knowing the
downside but set up a plan to redeem us as He spoke words to the first man,
that the seed of the woman will bruise the heel of the serpent. From, there the
plan was set in motion, through several generations till Jesus was born.
He chased after us with a love that is reckless. We will not be denied the
love that comes with being sons of God even though the devil wanted otherwise; From
Adam to Abraham to Judah to Jesus to this moment, He continues to chase after
everyone who would become part of THE BELOVED.
All packaged in Jesus.
And He has prepared for you and me, an inheritance that the world cannot
match, understand or comprehend. An inheritance not made with hands.
Love at Gethsemane: A Reflection of Sacrifice
At Gethsemane, we are told that as he pondered what kind of death He will
die, He was sweating, so much so that it was like blood, He ploughed through
that agony to still say, I will lay down my life for them. It does make me
wonder, what kind of love will make a man do that. I don't think I have
scratched the depth of that love.
In the shadowed groves of Gethsemane, a profound moment unfolds. Here,
amidst the whispering olive trees, Jesus contemplates the weight of His
impending sacrifice. As He grapples with the foreknowledge of His crucifixion,
His anxiety manifests so intensely that His sweat falls like drops of blood
upon the hallowed ground. This image, striking in its intensity, encapsulates
the essence of divine love—a love so deep, it embraces even the most
excruciating of sacrifices.
"I will lay down my life for them," He declares, His voice
resonating with unwavering resolve. This statement, simple yet profound, echoes
through time, challenging us to comprehend the magnitude of such selfless
devotion. As I reflect on this scene, I find myself humbled and awestruck. What
brand of love could drive a man to embrace such fate willingly? The depth of
this love, so boundless and unfathomable, escapes my full understanding, yet it
beckons me to delve deeper, to explore the mysteries it holds.
Through this sacred act at Gethsemane, we witness love in its most active
form—not just an emotion, but a force compelling one to the ultimate act of
self-giving. As I ponder this, I realize that my journey to grasp the full
meaning of this love is far from over. It is a journey of discovery,
reflection, and, ultimately, transformation.
A Love that waits
God waits patiently for you and me, waiting for us to turn to Him, waiting
for us to make the choice to accept His love. His love does not force its way
with us, we all have the freedom to choose it or not engage it. However, there
are many downsides to not accepting that love, some eternal and some in this
life. I will not get into the details.
But the summary of it is that we are not just capable as humans to live
outside of that love without causing the suffering others.
There is love for you in God. You are His creation and there are riches of
His grace that He looks to give to you.
A Love with Breadth, Length Depth and Height
Paul when writing to the Ephesian Christians, reminds them of this mystery
and prays that God will grant them the riches of His glory and that they will
be strengthened on the inside by this, He goes further to pray that Christ will
dwell in their hearts and they will be grounded in love and understand
(Comprehend) its length, breadth, depth and height, the love of Christ, the
love that passes knowledge and fills us with the fullness of God.
Tis prayer is my prayer for you as you read this. That you will know this kind
of Love and experience it.
I'm happy I found it
I know I found the greatest Love of All in Jesus Christ. And I hope you
accept the invitation to be loved by God.
I asked an AI Tool to provide further references. Here’s
what it produced.
- 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."
- This
is perhaps the most well-known verse about divine love and sacrifice,
emphasizing the depth of God’s love for humanity.
- Romans
5:8 - "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
- This
verse highlights the unconditional nature of God's love, showing that His
love is not contingent on human action.
- 1
John 4:8 - "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is
love."
- This
emphasizes the intrinsic nature of love as an essential aspect of God's
character.
- 1
Corinthians 13:4-8 - "Charity suffereth long, and is kind;
charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,...
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;
whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it
shall vanish away."
- Often
referred to as the "Love Chapter," it provides a profound
description of what love is and is not, embodying the essence of divine
love.
- Philippians
2:5-8 - "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal
with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of
a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion
as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the
death of the cross."
- This
passage offers insight into the humility and sacrifice of Jesus, further
elaborating on the theme of divine love and sacrifice.
- Psalm
136:1 - "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for
his mercy endureth forever."
- This verse and the entire Psalm 136 with its refrain, "for his mercy endureth forever," emphasize God's enduring love and faithfulness.
Also, the text in the main body written in italics were the
rewriting of my initial text by an AI, I thought it did a better job than me
and couldn’t help but add it in.
