This Kind of LOVE

His Word: Romans 8:35-39                                                           

35 Who then can ever keep Christ’s love from us? When we have trouble or calamity, when we are hunted down or destroyed, is it because he doesn’t love us anymore? And if we are hungry or penniless or in danger or threatened with death, has God deserted us?

36 No, for the Scriptures tell us that for his sake we must be ready to face death at every moment of the day—we are like sheep awaiting slaughter; 37 but despite all this, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us. 38 For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, 39 or where we are—high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean—nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us. (TLB)

Observation and Obedience:  In these verses, Paul starts out questioning us and then moves into the answer with words that are a declaration we cannot fathom. Why? What is it that keeps us from living this victorious kind of Love? Why can’t we get a handle on this kind of love so that it transforms us? 

Because, we spend so much time and energy trying to earn and deserve love and the love we give is conditional.

You can’t make somebody love you. And God knows that. He will never MAKE YOU LOVE HIM. 

God’s love for us is not earned, it’s not conditional, it’s not even deserved. It’s a love that goes way beyond what we have experienced or given in our relationships here on earth with family and friends, brothers and sisters. 

True love, God’s love is something He chose to do before the foundations of the earth were formed. It can’t be diminished or terminated because of our sin, our failures, our screw-ups. His love cannot be undone. He loves us, even when we are not lovable. He’s never going to say “If you loved me you’d keep your room clean.”  

We humans are epic failures when it comes to love. Both in the giving and receiving. We put all kinds of conditions on love. If you don’t know what I’m getting at, here are just a few examples. 

 If you loved me, you’d call more. If you loved me, you’d spend more time with me. If you loved me, I wouldn’t just hear from you when you needed something. If you loved me, you’d buy me that. If you loved me, you would appreciate the things I do and stop pointing out my deficiencies. If you loved me, you’d support my decisions no matter what. If you loved me, you’d tell me you love me more. If you loved me, you’d ________________________ (fill in the blank).   If……If……If…….

Here’s a stinging thought. Turn all those “ifs” around and see how they’d fit if God were saying them to you. (OUCH) 

God knows you and He LOVES YOU. He knows your heart, your thoughts and your desires. He created you. He knew you before you were formed. He breathed life into your lungs as you entered this world, for such a time as this! He created all that is around you. He loved you enough to put on skin, come to earth and be your sacrifice. He conquered the grave for you. He has written a 31,173 verse love letter to you. Have you read it? Have you let His Words saturate your life so that you are transformed into His hands and feet? 

What He says is, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'(Matt 22:37) Choose to KNOW Him. Not just know about Him. You’ll fall in love with this God. He won’t make you, no one can. But I guarantee, He’ll love you back like no one ever has. 

This kind of love is important! God’s love flowing through you is monumental. Francis Chan in his book “Crazy Love” points out that  God measures our lives by how we love. In 1 Corinthians 13:2-3 Paul writes;  “If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. (NLT) Sounds like a game changer to me! 

So the next question/assignment is how are we doing with this kind of Love? In the very next few verses, (1Corinthians 13:4-8) is our test. To really get these verses to hit home, read them, apply them with your name in place of the word “Love”. Something like this……“  (Sharon) is patient and kind.  (Sharon) is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. (Sharon) does not demand (her) own way. (Sharon) is not irritable, and (Sharon) keeps no record of being wronged. (Sharon) does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. (Sharon) never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Sobering isn’t it? Time to pray.

Prayer: Precious Father, Your love is life to me. Your love is never ending, undeniable, all consuming, undeserved and my greatest treasure. Help me to love others with that kind of love. Help me to see others with Your eyes. Help me to listen carefully to the Spirit’s promptings and help me to show love in all that I do and say. Thank you for your patience, your teachings, your word. My place is right where you have me and I seek to do your will with all my heart, mind and spirit through the power of the Cross. All praise for the name of Jesus. Amen

Encouragement:  “Has the world helped me to lay hold of Christ? Then I have conquered it. Has the world loosened my grasp upon Him? Then it has conquered me.” Alexander Maclaren