1 John 4:16, John 3:16, Romans 13:8, 1 Corinthians 13, Acts 2:42-47, John 13:34-35, Romans 5:5

Clive Urquhart reflects on the love of God in our lives

Clive Urquhart

In our church this autumn we have been on a journey to discover the height, the breadth, the width and the depth of God's love and what it means to live in that love and what that looks like being lived out among us and through us.

There are many facets to the nature and character of God described in the Bible; He is holy, righteous, pure, mighty, majestic, powerful, gracious, kind and compassionate. These are just a few examples.

The Bible also clearly reveals in 1 John 4:16 that, 'God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in Him,' and that His heart for people is motivated by love, 'For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, and that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.' John 3:16.

This shows the nature of God's love is to give and the heart of God, as a Father, is for all to know Him and be in a relationship of love with Him as His children.

From this relationship of love with Him, His love can then be expressed in us to others. 'There is one debt that you should always have: to love each other. The one who loves fulfils God's purpose for his life. For love is really the fulfilment of what God has commanded us to do.' Romans 13:8

Therefore, love is the motivator, or the dynamo by which God wants us to live.

In 1 Corinthians 13, the apostle Paul unpacks this and challenges the basis on which the Christian life is lived. He says that if we speak in tongues of men and angels but have not love, we are just noise like a clashing cymbal! He then says that if we have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and knowledge, if we have faith that can move mountains but have not love, we are nothing! He then says if we give all we possess to the poor and surrender our bodies for the sake of the gospel but have not love, we gain nothing! Wow!

Basically, he's saying, we can use the gifts of the Spirit, we can have great faith and we can serve, give and even lay our lives down but if it's not motivated and done in love, it is meaningless and not worth anything.

Therefore, the nature of love is not based on performance but on relationship. It's not about doing relationship but being in relationship. From our relationship of love with Him, His life and love flows to others in the way we give, serve, bless and look for the best in others.

In Acts 2:42-47 it describes this love being worked out in action and how the early church devoted themselves to the Lord and to one another in the way they shared their lives, their possessions and their homes, and how they were filled with awe, with wonders and miracles taking place and people being added to their number daily as a result.

Love, then, is very tangible and practical in its expression but is also very fruitful in what it produces in us and through us. Jesus encapsulated this in John 13:34-35, 'A new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.'

This love is visible and attractive, it is something that is seen. As we allow God to work in our lives in a deeper way we will increasingly reflect and demonstrate the nature and character of His unfailing love to all those in and around our lives.

Maybe take a few moments to thank God for His merciful and unfailing love for you that He has poured into your heart by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5), and ask Him to enable you to love today with His love.

Have a great day.