When it comes to the love of God I have found myself overwhelmed. The other day I was struggling to decide what to do for my quiet time so I prayed about it. The passage that came to mind, was 1 Corinthians 13, also known as the “Love Chapter”. I’ve studied it before as it applied to my marriage or parenting, but not in relation to God’s love. However, the parallel between this chapter and God, made perfect sense. What better scripture to learn about His love than the Love chapter.
As a Christian I am to be a reflection of Him and if that is true, there is a need for me to see God’s character. That brought up some serious questions right out of the gate such as if God is patient didn’t He lose His patience with Israel? Or If love isn’t boastful, doesn’t God boast about Himself? Of course God is God and He has the right to do both. But then how does that relate to me?
The first three verses seem to be common sense. When I took a deeper look I believe I gained a fresh perspective of who He is.
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith so as to remove mountains, but have not love. I am nothing. If I give away all I have and if I deliver up my body to be burned but have not love, I gain nothing.”
I Corinthians 13:1-3 (ESV)
- God speaks and understands all languages, for He created them. Not only that, He listens to thousands of them all at once. He doesn’t have to say, “You in Russia don’t talk until I hear those in England or Mexico.” He loves me so much that He can intently listen to anyone, anywhere at anytime and all the while be listening to me as if I was the only talking to Him.
- He understands all mysteries and all knowledge, yet He allows us to glimpse a fraction of what He knows such as black holes, and gives us the ability to build ultrasounds to see His creation of an unborn baby.
- He gave up all the riches of Heaven to put on a human body and live among us as a member of a poor carpenter’s family. Then He made the ultimate sacrifice of shedding His blood as the payment for our sins. That is some kind of love. Because of His love I can be free, be part of His family and live with Him forever.
I don’t know about you, but the above gives me chills.
How do you see His love? Are you awed by it? Do you want to reflect the same kind of love?
I would encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 13 for yourself. Ask Him to show you something new about Himself and give you a new perspective of His love.
As I share what God is showing me, I would also love to hear what He is showing you about His love whether it be from your own Bible study or how He has been working in your life.
1 Corinthians 13, Psalm 139
Solitude with the Father 