Our Heart’s Desire
What does the human spirit crave most? Is it not love? A perpetual love that is unconditional, selfless, and giving is all that our innermost being desires. But where can one find such love? Human love and brotherly love cannot suffice. It is that deep yearning within our soul that recognizes there is a love that surpasses anything known to mankind. Only God’s love can satiate the hunger the soul longs for.
God’s divine love rises above any love that we can possibly imagine. If we heaped all the love humankind could muster it would fall short of the splendor and abundance of God’s love. It is hard for us to conceive that such a love even exists. But it does, even before the earth and heavens were formed. It is a love so powerful, so encompassing, so vast, never waning, yet so personal, God freely gives it to every individual who accepts it.
It is there for the taking for anyone to receive even to those who reject God’s love. Once they come to their senses and come face to face with the glory of God’s redeeming love, resistance is futile. With complete abandon, we forsake all that has brought us to this point so that we can accept that great resplendent gift that is God’s love. Even our very soul leaps for joy to reconnect with its great Creator. We cannot help but desire its total completeness, its tenderness, its overwhelming peace, and its comfort of hope.
God chose to deliver us from sin because He loves us. God is love. It was His plan that only through the great sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, would His love story unfold to save us. It is salvation’s plan, the ultimate act of love. No rituals or ceremony, simply accept this everlasting gift handed to us through God’s grace. It is the ultimate love story sent to us with love from God.
Finding Love In God’s Word
God’s love is expressed throughout the Bible. Here are just some passages God preserved for us so we could learn of His love. Which is your favorite?
Proverbs 8:17: “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”
1 John 4:16: “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”
1 John 4:7: “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”
John 14:23: “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
1 Corinthians 8:3: “But if any man love God, the same is known of him.”
Ephesians 2:4: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,”
Titus 3:4: “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,”
Romans 5:8: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
John 15:9: “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.”
Romans 8:35: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
Ephesians 3:19: “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
Romans 5:5: “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
Romans 8:39: “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1 John 4:10: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Jeremiah 31:3: “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
1 John 3:1: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”
1 John 4:9: “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”
Ephesians 5:2: “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
2 Thessalonians 3:5: “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.”
And for a real treat, listen to the song “O Glorious Love!” written by John W. Peterson and sung by his grandson, Scott Strader.
With Love, From God Related Articles
==> Also read “Angel Tree Christmas.”
==> And read “Tidings of Great Joy!.”