How Deep Is Your Love?
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
? John 3:16 NKJV
LOVE! This powerful word appears between 310 and 2,107 times in the Bible. We use it every day, expressing our feelings toward friends, children, spouses, parents, and other loved ones. Yet, beyond mere words, LOVE must be proven. While it is heartwarming to hear that you are loved, it is even more important to see evidence of that love. We often test one another to assess the strength of our affections. Everyone wants to know: How deep is the love you profess to have for me?
Throughout Scripture, GOD has declared and demonstrated HIS love. In our own lives, HE has proven HIS love time and again. Ultimately, when GOD proclaimed HIS love for us, HE proved it by laying down HIS life for us. Thus, GOD revealed a crucial truth about love: it is SACRIFICIAL, SELFLESS, and centered on others.
How Selfless Are You?
Are you full of yourself? I used to be that way?considerate only of my own comfort and how decisions favored me. How deep is your love?
In addition to professing love for our fellow humans and earthly things, we also declare our love for GOD. As we make this proclamation, GOD desires to know how deep that love truly runs. After HIS resurrection, JESUS asked Peter repeatedly: ?Do you love ME?? The proof of this love was soul-winning. Many are shy to even profess their faith. Claiming it is a personal endeavor. We tend to talk about our loved ones except GOD! That is an error. There are times we are even shy to talk about our loved ones because we are ashamed of them. LOVE is pure and unconditional, looking beyond the apparent flaws we see.
After they had breakfast, JESUS said to Peter, ?Simon, son of Jonah, do you burn with love for me more than these?? Peter replied, ?Yes, Lord! You know that I have great affection for you!? JESUS responded, ?Then take care of my lambs.?
? John 21:15 TPT
The word ?these? referred to Peter's fishing. As a fisherman who returned to his old ways out of guilt and fear after JESUS' death, Peter faced a critical question: How deep is your love for ME compared to your former life? Peter had compromised due to difficulty. This question is not exclusive to Peter; the commission of soul-winning was given to us all (Matthew 28:18-20).
I have come to realize over time that Christianity is not a walk in the park. GOD expects us to stand firm during tough times as proof of our love. In our relationships, we often discover which ones are ?real? during times of adversity and affliction. How do you respond in the face of challenges? The Bible encourages us to stand firm after everything has happened.
GOD exemplified LOVE by dying in our place and bearing our burdens even while we were contrary to HIM.
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
? Romans 5:8 NLT
Many people's LOVE for a thing or person has led them to relocate, change their beliefs, and alter their life schedules. We too must strive to LOVE GOD and others selflessly. Understand that although the journey may seem tough at first, GOD grants us the grace to do so because HE IS LOVE.
How deep is your love? How far will it take you? Let your LOVE lead you to give!
Heavenly Father,
Thank YOU for loving me. I pray for the GRACE to do same- to live YOU and love others in JESUS mighty name. Amen
