Attributes of God series

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LOVING

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. "(I John 4:7-8 NKJV)

      The loving nature of God was illustrated by Jesus in the story of the prodigal son. The younger one of two sons walked up to their father one day and demanded that all his own inheritance be given him. The father gave him, he left home, went abroad and squandered his fortune. After living in penury for a while, he came to his senses and went back home. The father, who all the while had been longing to have back his lost son, sighted him first, ran out and welcomed him back with tears and open arms. The father slaughtered his treasured fatted cow (most likely to atone for the sins of the lost son) and threw a party. 

       Writer James Banks, in Our Daily Bread devotional, quipped, "God doesn't love us for who we are, what we have done or haven't done. His love isn't based on our worthiness at all but on His goodness and faithfulness." The bible tells us that when a sinner repents, turns from his sins and confesses that Jesus shed His blood to save him, God welcomes him back with open arms, and His angels rejoice! (Acts 3:19). That is the loving nature of our God.

       Loving is perhaps the ultimate attribute of the Almighty God, for God Himself is Love. Other attributes of God - just, merciful, gracious, good, faithful, immutable, kind - all stem from His loving nature. His loving character manifests in His innate, unchangeable propensity for loving. God cannot but love all His creatures, both great and small. And especially man, whom He created in His own image. A.W.Tozer wrote: “It is a strange and beautiful eccentricity of the free God that He has allowed His heart to be emotionally identified with men...He has let His heart be bound to us forever."

      Apostle John [the Apostle of love, the one who leaned on Jesus's breast] said, "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him." (I John 4:8-9). And Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." (John 14:23). God loves all who love His Son!

©OO-I.  Please share.


Links to my new books:

-Deeper Worship (Worship Him in spirit and truth)

-Renewed Blood (Journey to sickle cell healing)





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