Romans Ch5 v8: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Before God created the Heavens and the Earth he knew that he was going to have to sacrifice his only son, despite knowing this he still created us out of love with his love being unconditional. Through the resurrection Christ defeated death and ultimately spared us the separation from him upon judgement day.

Throughout Jesus’ ministry (and probably through his entire life) he continually showed his compassion and love for people; healing, comforting, feeding, raising people from the dead. And we are called be live our lives as Jesus did.

When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment he gave two: –

1. Love your God with all your heart, mind and soul.
2. Love your neighbour as yourself.

C S Lewis said ‘we shouldn’t worry about if we love our neighbour but act as if we do’.

Showing our neighbour (not our literal neighbors) love can be very hard at times, but we need to remember that we are not perfect and will be causing God pain and upset on a daily basis and he will forgive us when we sincerely ask him for forgiveness.

1 John Ch4 v7-10: Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

God’s love for us is agape love which is the highest form of love that is unconditional, transcends and is given regardless of the person(s) current situation. We need to remember that God is a ‘Just’ God who will judge the World (refer to Acts Ch17 v30-31 & Hebrews Ch10 v26-31), and when we seek for forgiveness it needs to be sincere and not taken for granted / light hearted.

One final comment when people ask ‘why didn’t God make us love him?’ part of the answer is that true love is the freedom to love and that forced love leads down the path to loneliness, regret, upset, heartache. Within the ‘Prodigal Son’ parable the Father lets his younger son leave with his inheritance, yet on his son’s return the Father throws a large party which would have guests from the local village. 

Thought for the week

Do we try to obey Jesus’ two commandments in our lives and how could we do better?