Destination: God's Love (Part 1)

8/5/2013

    Now hold on.

    My nuts-and-bolts mind feverishly races, explodes, and then jerks to a dead stop.   Just how do I DO this? This sounds wonderful, but what does it really mean? How do I rise to that higher road that gives an in-your-face shove to the practicalities and emotional struggles of everyday life: from flat tires and broken molars to feeling offended and overwhelmed? Is there not a roadmap?

    What--you may wonder--am I writing about? Well, my dearest friend (who practices what she preaches) encouraged me to rise above circumstance to abound in the love and delight that the very Lover of My Soul abundantly showers upon me. She says there is a higher road that transcends the natural--a road where there is peace beyond understanding.

    As Christians we ought not feel oppressed, as if we are dying in circumstance. This is not God's way. In order to breathe in and breathe out God's presence (which trumps circumstance), we must be fully saturated by His divine love. I must yearn earnestly for His love to the extent that every cell in my body is positively flooded by it.  My heart must cry out daily to experience this type of continual, unconditional love.

    Now do you see why I struggle? I'm a bit more wired for knowing knowledge of God than I am for knowing God.  And in this case, there is no Greek or Hebrew lexicon that will help. But thank goodness that I truly desire to know God, His character, and His ways. I want to know how to rest in His love. And I want to so know Him, that knowing knowledge of Him will never cut it for me again.  Knowing knowledge of God is not without purpose. For most of us, it is, at least, a starting point.

   Let's catch a vision of our destination (knowing God and His divine love and resting in it) before we buckle up. Let's call Point A: God's Word. What does His Word tell us about His love?

He loved us first (1 John 4:19)
He loved us so much to lay down His life for us (1 John 3:16)
He loves us as a father loves his children (Pro. 3:12)
God loves us because we love His son (John 16:27)
He loves us when the odds are against us (Deu. 23:5)
He showed us His love by freeing us from sin by His blood (Rev. 1:5)
God loves those who obey Jesus' teachings (John 14:23)
God loves those who pursue righteousness (Pro. 15:9)
God loves the foreigner (Deu. 10:18)
God's love is described as great (Psa 17:7); wonderful (Psa. 31:21); priceless (Psa. 36:7); and unfailing (Psa. 6:4)
His love endures forever (1 Chr. 16:34)
His love reaches to the heavens (Psa. 36:5)
God appoints love (Psa 61:7); sends love (Psa. 57:3); crowns with love (Psa 103:4); keeps in love (Isa. 16:5); and shows love (Hos. 2:23)
God established a covenant of love (1 Kin. 8:23)
God's love follows (Psa. 23:6) yet is ever before (Psa. 26:3); stands firm (Psa. 89:2); and supports (Psa. 94:18)
God's love fills all the earth (Psa. 119:64); covers all wrongs (Pro. 10:12); and is better than life (Psa. 42:8)
Waters cannot quench love, and rivers cannot wash it away (SS 8:7)

Stay tuned for Part 2 as we learn to walk from knowledge of God's love to Point B: Coming as a child.

"I love those who love me;
And those who diligently seek me will find me"
Proverbs 8:17