The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"Great Love"
While God's greatness can be defined in countless ways, the Apostle Paul and the Psalmist unite to proclaim such glory in terms of our Lord's love.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us… the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge… His greatness is unsearchable" (Ephesians 2:4; 3:19; Psalm 147:5).
How much is God love, and how much does He love? We will never fully know. Such greatness surpasses all measure. This we do know: this day provides opportunity to venture further in our eternally unending journey into more knowledge, understanding, access, and experience of God's character, nature, and way. Certaintly, this directs us to the Lord Jesus, in whom we discover our Heavenly Father's loving devotion to others in a manner and measure far beyond our full comprehension.
"He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father… the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and give His life a ransom for many… Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (Matthew 20:28; John 14:9; I John 4:10).
Who would do such a thing as to give His eternally beloved Son to suffer, be forsaken, and die for His enemies? Who would be willing to forgive those whose sins lead to the torturing of His Son to death? Who would abandon His Son on a cross of sorrow and pain in order to establish loving relationship with those who made necessary such a horror? How can He possibly love us with a devotion no less immeasurable than His affection and commitment to the Lord Jesus? (John 17:26). No final answers await our hearts and minds. Again, however, this day offers the possibility of some new insight into the love of God, or some measure of truth we have known, but of which we need reminder or enhancement. "Continue ye in My love" (John 15:9).
We can never know all of the love of God. But we can know some, and we can know more. We must. Regardless of how far we have journeyed into such light, we have not ventured far enough. What does it mean that "God is love?" (I John 4:8). What does it mean that He loves us as His trusting children, but also that He loved us as His foes? (Romans 5:10). What does it mean that His love abundantly dwells within the hearts of believers? (Romans 5:5). What does it mean that the love of God is purely and unselfishly devoted to others? (I Corinthians 13:5). What does it mean that our Father loves you and me in the most personal of devotions? (John 21:20). What does it mean that we are to love as He loves? (Ephesians 5:2). These and countless other questions ever and forever lie before us, beckoning us to venture ever and forever further into a measureless Heart of goodness. We have this day to do so. May the Spirit of God lead us in the love of God found in the Savior, the Scriptures, and along the paths of this life and forevermore…
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God."
(I John 3:1)
Weekly Memory Verse
And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved e may be in them, and I in them.
(John 17:26)
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