The Goal of God’s Love
I attended the late service at Timberline Church today. At the end of the service a family came forward to greet me. Some months ago, they had me pray with them about a pending adoption. The were looking for the opportunity to reconnect and introduce me to Samuel, their newly adopted son. What a joy to give thanks for the Lord’s faithfulness, and pray a prayer of blessing on this family. They made the comment about the first time I prayed with them saying, “Sometimes when you can’t pray for yourself, you need others to have faith for you.” Boy can I relate to that with the history of my health crisis.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “But if someone obeys God’s teaching, then in that person God’s love has truly reached its goal.” 1 John 2:5 NCV
While we can not grasp the endlessness of God’s love, John is clear in communicating the goal of God’s love for our life. It is simply that we obey Him. We agree with God’s Word, what He says about our life and the solution to the problem of separation from Him. The solution is found in placing our faith in Christ, entering into relationship with Him in a way that transforms our life.
Have you noticed that couples who are married for a long time, seem to reflect more things in common than not? That relationship of love and their closeness over the years is reflected in their actions. Perhaps you have noticed the same between a Father and a son. I recall, a young adult son who had some of the same mannerisms as his father. Since the son had been adopted, I knew it was not genetics. Often times a father will be reflected in a son or a mother in her daughter. John says, “Since you know that Christ is righteous, you know that all who do right are God’s children.” (1 John 2:29 NCV) Our lives are to reflect the nature of the Father who is in us.
It is John, who in his gospel records Jesus’ words, “If you love me, obey my commandments.“ (John 14:15 NLT) In the same chapter we read Jesus’ words, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.“ (John 14:23 ESV)
In John’s epistle it is clear that love motivates our behavior. I believe that is something we can all relate to. When you love someone it has an impact on what you do. You desire to please the one you love. Also, when we are a recipient of unconditional love, it impacts our life as well. God’s love for us motivates us to obey and our obedience in turn reflects our love for God.
When you reflect on 1 Corinthians 13, the short chapter on love, you will notice that it is all about action. Love is described by what it does and what it does not do.
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures.” (1 Cor 13:4-7)
God has a plan and purpose and goal for our life. At times that is not always clear when it comes to our personal life. But as it relates to the “goal of God’s love” it is clear: we are to obey the Lord’s teachings. This is not a goal that is reached by our striving, it is realized by our trusting.