October 2

The Knowledge Of God's Love

And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him. In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love. We love because He first loved us. — 1 John 4:16-19 BSB

God is Love. Jesus Christ was the first to reveal that we love God only because He first loved us. No philosophy of ancient Greece or Rome contains this idea. It was the followers of Jesus Christ who introduced this truth to the world. Before Christ, might and majesty were the dominant themes, but since Christ, we think of Love enthroned in the very heart of God.

His love surpasses knowledge. We can apply the words of Psalm 139 to His love—it knows our ways, surrounds us on every side, and gently lays its hand upon us. It is so high, we cannot reach it. If we ascend to the heavens, it is there; if we descend to the grave, it is there to lift us to His heart. Whether in the brightness of morning or the darkness of night, His love is ever-present, guiding and keeping us. It was with us at our birth and will remain with us in our old age. Its beauty and depth are beyond words.

Even our sin cannot lessen His love. Peter sinned deeply, but did that separate him from Christ? No! When Christ rose, He specifically sent for Peter. In the garden, He restored him, and by the lakeside, He reminded Peter that His love was as full as ever (Mark 16:7, John 21:15).

His love will not hold back. Jesus looked at the rich young man and loved him, yet He gave him the hard truth: “Go, sell all you have, and follow Me.” The man went away sad, and Jesus was sad too, but His love was too great to spare him from what would lead him to the best.

We believe in God’s love even when we cannot feel it. The Apostle says, “We have known and believed the love that God has for us” (1 John 4:16). But sometimes life’s perplexities make us question that love. In those moments, we must hold on to the truth that God is Love, and nothing can reach us except through His love.

Prayer

May I not just talk or think about Your love, O God. Grant me the grace to show it, not just in big moments, but in the small frustrations and daily challenges of life. Amen.