YOU ARE GREATLY LOVED BY THE LORD - PART 2

FRIDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2022

There are several ways humans express their love for one another. For some people, love is when someone buys a wonderful and costly gift or present that excites them. For some, its a constant reminder, in form of "cheering up" comments that inspire and motivate them to achieve their goals, obtain their desired expectations and become a better version of themselves. For some, they take comfort in the fact that someone is always fighting for them, supporting and helping them to win the hard battles in their lives. For some families, it's all about being there for loved ones and showing affectionate care, even in darkest moments. For Jesus the Son of the living God, He demonstrated the "greater love" on the cross of Calvary for all mankind. And so, the Bible says, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:13 NIV). In other words, we are greatly loved by the Lord!

Reference: Reference: 2 Thessalonians 2:13 New Living Translation (NLT) "As for us, we can't help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord..."

Regardless of The simplicity of this verse, it can actually bring us into full details of the several points that confirm how greatly we're loved by the Lord. Indeed, there is nothing more comforting and uplifting than the love of God, and notably, the Lord Jesus Christ is the tangible expression of this love. By this I mean that Christ is the love of God that justifies the ungodly and makes them righteous through faith. The Bible says, "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory" (Romans 5:1-2 NLT). Did you know that this love didn't just stop at making us right before God, it also gave us the right to become God's own people? The Bible noted: "But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12 ESV).

Beloved, 1 John 3:1 (NIV) says: "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." God's unconditional and unwavering love isn't a stingy one; by studying this verse, we can easily see and understand that He lavished it on us, meaning that it was an enormous and gigantic expression. Just notice the expression in the verse: Firstly, it named us "God's own children", an identity or recognition that is quite superior to the world's perspective or human understanding. This is why John the Evangelist reassured us saying, "And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." Sometimes this love shows itself real in our lives in small ways, for instance - someone walking up to you at the verge of giving up and being a tremendous blessing in your troubled moments, even when you least expected it. Other times, God demonstrates it in a more realistic and miraculous way, such as when He delivers someone dear to you from a ghastly car accident that could've led to their death. Got it?

The Bible also lets us know that our hope in the Lord does not put us to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us (Romans 5:5 NIV). Have you ever seen where water is pouring out from a fountain? If so, you can agree with me that it doesn't happen or drip like small drops of liquid, and also, the flow is hugely unquenchable. That means, this "poured out" love administered by the Holy Spirit, comes with an index of heavy-duty influence of grace and favour, while being imparted into the Christian's heart. It is durable, comfortable and satisfactory in the heart, with unquenchable advantages attached to it.

In summary, Jesus exhorted us in John 15:12 (NIV), saying, "This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you." What does this mean for the saints in Christ? It means that we are to follow the example of Christ by acting on this very commandment. That way, the love of God takes on a whole new meaning in your way of living. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Jeremiah 31:3; Psalm 86:15; John 16:27; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 1 John 4:7.

Guided Prayer: How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take solace under the canopy of your tender loving care. Whenever I call your faithfulness to mind and meditate on your love in the night watches, it strengthens my soul and enlarges the horizon of your perspective in my heart, thereby making the dark hours of the nights very cheerful. Your love continually flows into my life as durable blessings and I'm glad that as your face shines brightly on me, it is mirrored in mine and the rays are absorbed as my lifestyle. Thank you Lord for keeping my heart refreshed with the tokens of your lovingkindness in Jesus' Name, Amen!