The Love of a Heavenly Father

Recently, for school we had to write a “definition” essay, and the one I wrote below, was one that I felt like it was worth sharing. I’ve written a blog on God’s love in the past, and a lot of my points were similar in this paper, too. I just wanted to upload another one for those of you who like reading my thoughts and writings. Thanks!

“Nine-in-ten Americans believe in a higher power, but only a slim majority believe in God as described in the Bible” (pewforum.org). The fact that nearly 90% of people who live in America would say that, yes, there is a god, is just crazy to think about. You would think that if 90% of Americans believed in ‘God’, then America would be really united and loving toward each other, right? This is the problem; most people who claim to know God have never truly experienced His love in their selfish lives and habits. As believers, we are claiming to have accepted Jesus into our heart, but in order to do so, we have to understand the love that our Father offers. Many Christians don't understand how much God loves them, and how His love can and will change them if they allow it to.

If Christ’s love is so great, and offered to everyone, then why haven’t I ever experienced it? This is a question that a lot of Christians and non-Christians ask. This question proves the idea that whoever is asking this, has not ever let love into their lives, or accepted it as it is. As humans, we were born with a sin nature, which leads us to so much selfishness and greed. If we were to live in selfishness, then how could we feel God’s love? God did not create us so that He could please and serve us, although He did serve during His 33 years on earth. God created us to serve Him, and to worship Him. If we claim to be a Christian, then we need to know this; and if so, then why don’t we choose to live in light of this? The thing that seems to blow my mind, is the fact that even though God created the earth to worship Him, He still loves everybody so much. Verse eight of Psalm fifty-six states, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book (NLT).” In this Psalm, you can gain a better understanding of God’s love. The fact that God, the One who created everything to serve Himself, bottles our tears, is just a magnificent idea, yet truth, and makes His love all the more evident. Let’s not even forget about the biggest piece of evidence surrounding His love, which is His sacrifice. God sent His ‘only’ son, to be killed by us, His creation, so that He could rid us of our sin, and give us a chance to live in eternal glory with God. There is no greater love story than this.

One of the realest parts of love, is the action it holds. In 1 Corinthians 16:14, Paul states the simple phrase, “Let all that you do be done in love. (NIV)” When God’s son, Jesus came to earth, He set the perfect example of how to make love more than a feeling, and turn it an action. John chapter twenty-one, verse twenty-five states, “Jesus did many other things [miracles] as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” Jesus did not perform miracles to gain attention, but because He loved each individual of whom He healed. God’s love is life changing. Dictionary.com’s definition of love states, “a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.” The unique word in the middle of the definition, might be the most important word there. The word ‘passionate’ changes the whole definition of love. The definition of the word ‘passionate’, according to dictionary.com, states, “expressing, showing, or marked by intense or strong feeling; emotional”. Words in the definition like ‘expressing’ and ‘showing’ are perfect words to use to describe the way that Christians should love, knowing the love that the Lord has for them. We, as followers of Christ, ought to maintain passionate love; to express and show God’s love in everything that we do.

- Jack Hilsher

“We love because He first loved us.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:19‬ ‭(NIV‬‬)