Where is love?
“If God is love, where is He?” Some might be asking.
“This is so elementary. I don’t have time for this,” some might be thinking.
But perhaps, it’s in simplicity that God paints His pictures of love everyday.
If we open our eyes, we can see love in everything.
Color, design, majesty, in each leaf and flower. We are awed by each morning’s sun.
We understand the need from protection from danger. We blink before something might touch our eye.
Simplicity is found in much complexity.
A Designer? Many of us agree, “Yes. I believe in God.”
Many believe shallow thoughts that the Bible is only a religious book. Fluffy, fairy-tale like, with a long set of rules.
God’s Word is far from soft and fluffy, especially in its definition of love.
God’s creation went his own way, deceived by the snake, disobedient to God’s instruction way back in the beginning, Genesis 3.
The prophet Isaiah sums it up like this,
“All we like sheep have gone astray . . .”
no longer under the protective care of the Shepherd, we, stubborn sheep go our own way and then are overcome by pestilence and fear.
Hatred.
Pain.
Darkness. Every day. More and more.
Where is love?
Over 2000 years ago, on a hill called Calvary, Jesus took all our filthiness, cruelty, stubbornness, envy, pride, hatred, and murders and was nailed to the cross. He willingly left the glory of heaven to come down to us.
He took all our sin on Himself.
That’s what love is.
“Who has believed our report? . . . He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised and we did not esteem Him” Isaiah 53: 1-3.
God. Loves. The world. He sees. He knows. He never slumbers.
Do we cry out for His presence?
“God so loved the world that He . . . “
gave. . .
His only Son, . . .
for me. For you.
“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed” Isaiah 53:4-6.
Love offers freedom, healing, the power of . . .
forgiveness and new Life.
Love is not like the natural man, ever.
Only God is perfect love. And He took all our failure on Himself and He offers His love to us, today, no matter what we’ve done.
The Bible tells us so:
Love is very patient and He’s kind.
Love’s not irritable,
or rude.
Love doesn’t demand His own way.
He’s never jealous or envious.
Love is never selfish, boastful or proud.
Do we hold grudges?
God’s love does not.
God’s love hardly notices when others do it wrong.
Love is never glad about injustice!
But, Love rejoices whenever truth wins out.
Love came down and was, and is loyal at a great cost.
Love always believes the best about people.
Love hopes the best for all.
He says, “I’ve been waiting for you. You are such a treasure to Me. You are Mine.”
He cleanses and heals our broken and darkened hearts. He shines light to repair all damage done. He makes all things new when we invite Love in.
Do we resist God’s love? . . . still?
Isn’t it time?
His love never fails.
Never.
(Taken from 1 Corinthians 13, Living Bible with emphasis added).
“Draw near to God and he will draw near to you” James 4:8.
Do you feel the Lord touch your heart today?
Talk to Him. He’s been calling You by name.
