Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Monday, January 18, 2016
“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1 John 4:8).
Love, ennobling love, is such a high principle that the Bible equates it with God. That is to say, love is a divine principle. It is the driving principle for God’s gift of salvation. When humankind was at its lowest, most rebellious state, our God of love gave us His dear Son to take the punishment we deserve, so we can have the righteous reward that He deserves.
Our God of love gave us His dear Son to take the punishment we deserve, so we can have the righteous reward that He deserves.
Sin is effective at separating us from God. It makes of us brute spiritual beasts. It causes us to betray those with whom we purport to have “loving” relationships. It causes us to believe our life difficulties are so critical that we would consider taking the lives of scores of people in violent, unprovoked attacks. It deceives us into believing that even though our Creator is beneficent and merciful; even though He only has our best interest at heart; we oftentimes distrust Him, because we do not understand Him. Sin drives a seemingly immovable wedge between us and our God who also is our (eternal) Life.
On the other hand, love that is of the heavenly sort, mends broken hearts. When people are feeling hopeless, love offers good news of a better day on the horizon for those who trust in God. Love assures repentant sinners that trials will not last always. Love elevates the mind to a place that values the lives and wellbeing of others, and respects God’s intent for each person. Love does not deliberately injure. Love does not destroy good relationships. Love does not see someone in need and turn a blind eye. Love, if it is in its purity (not as the media often portrays) is effective to change helpless sinners into powerful saints of the Most High God!
It would be well for us to search the Scriptures for, and ask the Lord to reveal this blessing of love. It is so high a principle that the Bible equates it with its Originator, God Himself.
