Love’s Benefits

“God so loved the world” (John 3:16)…”God showed his great love for us” (Romans 5:8)…”God showed how much He loved us” (1 John 4:9)…  Okay, but what does all that really mean for us today?

John writes that “God is love.” (1 John 4:8, 16 NLT) Not only does He love, He is love! His very nature is loving to the core. What is this love characterized by? Paul gives us a list of love attributes in his letter to the Corinthians: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) It is quite a list of goals for us to strive for, but there’s only One who has every characteristic perfected! Let’s look at just a few of them.

God’s love is patient.

We see God’s love in the gift of free will. We are free to choose to live his way, or not his way; but whichever way we choose leads us to unquestionable eternal consequences. God has been patient, holding off his final judgment of the world, because He wants to give us plenty of opportunity to choose wisely.

Peter writes, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” (1 Peter 3:9)  Repenting involves turning to God and turning away from our own selfish ways. It comes with the eternal reward of heaven!

We read in Proverbs 14, “The prudent understand where they are going, but fools deceive themselves” (verse 8), and “The prudent carefully consider their steps.” (verse 15)

Take a few moments to consider your steps. Which path are you following for your life, and where will it eventually lead you?

 God’s love is kind.

God is not only kind to his followers. He is kind to everyone, regardless of merit. Jesus said, “For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” (Matthew 5:45) Sunlight and rain are both important for growing food, and both are gifts from God. We may not all be farmers, but we all need what their work provides! God’s gift of sun and rain affects us all.

James writes, “Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father” (James 1:17)

Can you see God’s kindness at work in your life, far beyond just the sun and rain?

God’s love keeps no record of being wronged.

John tells us that “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” (1 John 1:9) God’s forgiveness is complete, but we must seek it.

David writes, “For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” (Psalm 103:11-12) The east is infinitely far from the west!

Have you asked for God to forgive you for all of the ways you have failed him? You can have a fresh start with him today!

God’s love is for everyone who will receive it! You can experience his love in your life right now. If you’d like to read more about it, check out Loved.