God is Love

The other night, I was walking out of Carly’s room after saying goodnight. She spoke up and asked, “Why do you love me?” Many things rushed through my mind about who she is, but none of them were the reasons why I loved her. I responded, “I don’t know…because I just do,” but that didn’t seem to be enough for me.

The next day, I listened to a podcast from Dwell Differently called “Do You Believe You Have to Earn God’s Love?”  In this episode, they speak of God’s unconditional love with regard to their February focus verse, “I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have drawn you with unfailing kindness (Jeremiah 31:3b).” 

This podcast reminded me that we don’t earn God’s love. God’s love is not about why He loves us but the truth that He does.

I shared this with Carly later that day.

Then I continued to explain that the podcast made me think more about her question the night before. I told her it was less important to think about why I love her and, more important, that I do love her. My love doesn’t stem from something she does or says. I don’t love her because she’s a good student or likes to organize. I love her because she is mine. I love her because she exists. My love has more to do with me than it does with her.

In much the same way, God loves us because we are His children. “In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith (Galatians 3:26).” Scripture reinforces this truth multiple times throughout the New Testament so that we know without a doubt that we are children of God (1 John 3:1, Romans 8:14-17, John 1:12-13, 2 Corinthians 6:18). It has more to do with Him than us. 

God is love (1 John 4:8,16). He loves us because of who He is, not for anything we do or say. God’s love is much greater than the love we can offer, even greater than the love a devoted parent offers to their child.

As a parent, I don’t stop loving one of my kids when they are disrespectful or forget to do something. I love them when I’m disappointed, and I love them even when I get angry. I teach them lessons, and sometimes I have to impose discipline, but I love them through it all. 

Often God gets a bad rap from the history in the Old Testament of the Bible. Some see His rules, commands, and judgments as overbearing, even unloving. He is seen as angry and punishing. But I will tell you that the more time I spend studying this part of Scripture, the more His great love is revealed through His unending pursuit and forgiveness of His people.

The Lord loves us through our mistakes and misdeeds. He loves us despite our sins. 

There are many instances of God’s love throughout scripture, even amidst rebellion. I’ll illustrate one example from the book of Isaiah here.

Isaiah prophesied to the people and Kings of Judah during a confusing and challenging time. Most of the nation had rejected God for various sins, including idol worship, sorcery, divination, and human sacrifice. They mocked the Lord and His messengers, made alliances with other nations, and took part in sexual sins. The Lord sent Isaiah to admonish them about their misdeeds and prophesy their inevitable exile to Babylon. 

To say God was disappointed in and angry with His people is probably an understatement.

Nevertheless, in their egregious sin (and punishment), God still promised that His unfailing love for them would last forever. “‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you (Isaiah 54:10).” 

That promise extends to us now, too. We are God’s people, His children, through faith.

The New Testament continues to reinforce God’s love. The Father showed His love by sending us Jesus (John 3:16). Jesus tells His followers in John 13:34, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Then He showed His everlasting love for us by sacrificing His human life for us (Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:10). 

He loves us.

Why? I don’t know…He just does. And that’s good enough for me.