1 John 4:16
“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”
God has been redefining love as a whole for me recently. How I receive love, how I love, how God loves me, and how I love God. What does love even look like. What is the greatest act of love someone can show you, what is the smallest? Is love an emotion we all feel the same way? Can we truly love a sport or an object? So many questions about this one emotion that determines large portions of our lives.
1 John 4:16 says that we know and believe that God loves us. Well, how do we know this? Jesus came and died for us. It is something we say often and I feel like we have forget the weight of his sacrifice. Jesus, God in flesh came down and took our place upon the cross that was meant for us. He came down and subjected himself to his own punishment for sin. In doing so he paid the price for all who would live.
What was the price that he paid for us? The price of sin is death but not just physical death, it also included spiritual death. He bore the punishment of His own wrath. Well, what is His wrath because it is something that many of us do not really know much of. I think Deuteronomy 28 paints this amazing picture of Gods blessings and His wrath. The first 14 verses of the chapter speaks of all what will happen if all of the Lords commandments are obeyed. That you will lend to many others and never borrow; that you will abound in prosperity; that He will make you His holy people. The next 53 verses speak of what His wrath will be like if not all of His commandments are kept. That it will be like a wasting disease and it will be there till our death; no rain will fall to water crops; our bodies will be food for the birds air and the beasts of the earth; we will be driven to madness; we will serve our enemies in hunger, thirst, and nakedness; and that it will be like a mother eating her new born child.
What.
Is that a God of love? Why would a God of love bring such a judgement upon His own chosen people? Who is this God that would do that?
Yes, He is a God of wrath. He is also a God of justice, anger, love, mercy, joy, love, and of forgiveness.
John 3:16-17
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
Knowing just a little bit of Gods wrath makes this verse so much more powerful. God subjected himself to his wrath so we would not have to experience it for ourselves. His wrath serves to magnify his love to us through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. So what is love then? Love is sacrifice.
“Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person’s ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.” C.S. Lewis
It is by this that we know that God loves us. He wants our ultimate good, He wants us to live in what He intended for us. He shows us the ultimate picture of love with Jesus.
This is what has been stirring in my heart here in Australia. This time here has been so sweet. Growing my love for Christ is in-turn growing my love for others. The people of Coffs Harbour remind me of home. The beach vibe, slow pace of life, openness, it feels natural here. We will be leaving tomorrow morning to drive up to Brisbane to then fly to Bali Wednesday morning. Bar ministry has really been placed on my heart for my time in Bali. This is something new that I will be stepping into, so please be praying for me for that. Keep my team and squad in your prayers on our travel days. A few people are fighting injury and sickness also so please be praying against that. I have a few other things that are need of prayer that I am not ready share on the internet also. I am excited God to continue to grow my faith. Bigger things are coming, I am sure of it.
God is good.
Love Joe
