Loved

We've all heard about God's love.  It's all over the Bible.  Complete.  Fully.  Eternally.  Unconditionally.  Agape love.  

"'Agape' is one of several Greek words for love. When the word "agape" is used in the Bible, it refers to a pure, willful, sacrificial love that intentionally desires another’s highest good."  This is the love God has for us.  

People like to say God is love.  And love is part of God's character.  He cannot stop Himself from loving because it is who He is.  

In a podcast from Joyce Meyer I listened to today, she spoke how God can't help but love.  It's what He does.  I started thinking about that and thought to myself, but God also hates.  He hates sin.  The Bible tells us so.   There are a lot of things the Bible tells us God hates.  All of them involve some kind of sin.  For example: Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him:17 A proud look, A lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.  

So as I thought about this I concluded that even God's hate is born out of love.  Sin separates.  It causes a chasm between us and God, and us and others.  And this chasm between us and God can be eternal if we don't repent and accept what Jesus did on the Cross for us.  God hates sin because He knows how damaging it is to those He loves, us.  Our Father knows how it breaks our hearts, causes chaos in our lives, brings consequences, sometimes severe ones, even eternal ones.  He sees how it divides His church, marriages, friendships and families.  And most of all it separates Him from us, those whom He dearly loved so much that Jesus willingly and in love chose to die to bring us back into fellowship with our God.  Ultimately, it's the sin of unbelief in Jesus' redeeming work on the Cross, that final decision of rebellion and rejection of God that separates us forever from our loving Creator.  

Since I've been spending so much time in the Old Testament, seeing how God dealt with His rebellious, wayward nation Israel, seeing His discipline of them, I come to a new understanding about His relationship with them.  While He was angry and punished them, the bottom line was that it was done in love to draw them back to Himself, back to holiness and safety.  

Hosea 11:1-9 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.  2 As they called them, so they went from them; They sacrificed to the Baals, and burned incense to carved images. 3 “I taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by their arms; but they did not know that I healed them.  4 I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love,  and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them. 5 “He shall not return to the land of Egypt; But the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to repent. 6 And the sword shall slash in his cities, devour his districts, and consume them, because of their own counsels. 7 My people are bent on backsliding from Me.  Though they call to the Most High, none at all exalt Him.  8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim?  How can I hand you over, Israel?  How can I make you like Admah?  How can I set you like Zeboiim?  My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred. 9 I will not execute the fierceness of My anger;  I will not again destroy Ephraim.  For I am God, and not man, the Holy One in your midst; And I will not come with terror.

God's love compels Him to discipline us for our sin.  He wants us to live in harmony and safety.  He wants us to stay in His boundaries.  He wants the absolute best for our lives.  This is how He loves.  

Revel in this love.  Enjoy the fellowship of our Lord and Savior by being obedient.  Stay within His boundaries, secure in His love.  Rest in Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:  “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.  And know that even in discipline God loves.  

Lord, I am so grateful and amazed at Your love.  Even when You hate, it's born out of Your great love for us.  Lord, help us to stay in the boundaries of that love and enjoy the sweet communion that it brings.  Help us to love You with all our heart, mind, and strength.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Spend some time reading Isaiah.  See God's love in action.