We should all strive to be lifelong learners. I’m still learning. If we are open to it we can always learn something from others and our circumstances. As we love others with God’s love we are not only a blessing, but we are also blessed.
Here are a few things I knew, but see more clearly from sharing God’s love:
- God is love. He doesn’t just act lovingly. He is the complete source and definition of it. It is his very nature. He cannot love us less or more. He fully, wonderfully loves us because that is who he is.
- God loves unconditionally. His love doesn’t waver based on our performance. Of course, he wants us to do what is right and what is in line with his character because he knows that is what is best for us. He hates sin because it kills us. But he still loves us even when we fail. Although God loves us we don’t experience his love in its fullness until we love him back through faith and obedience. We should love God simply for who he is and not just what he does for us.
- God loves extravagantly. We can never out give God. Whatever we give up he replaces with the glorious gift of himself. He is so generous and caring. He even sacrificed himself on our behalf. He mercifully gives people multiple chances to turn to him. Those who do he views in a new way. He sees them for who he has designed them to be in Christ, instead of how they fall short.
- God loves jealously. At first this seems negative. That’s because our view and expression of jealousy in this fallen world is self-centered and destructive. But God’s jealousy is neither. He wants us to love him first and foremost because he truly is the best thing for us. There is no one or no thing better. When we treat anyone or anything more important than him in our hearts it hurts us. To lovingly save us, God will take us through difficult trials until we learn this truth.
- God’s love is to be shared. We experience God’s love the most when we share it with others. God loves us so we can be poured out. Then he fill us again with more of himself.
May we each look for ways to share God’s love. Doing so has taught me more about God and changed me for the better. I don’t really know where you stand with God, so I guess I am writing this hoping that you have grown to love God more than anyone else. I hope you love him enough that you would give up anyone or anything for him. Only then will you find your deepest needs met, unwise choices avoided, and your greatest joys realized.