When you think about how God has expressed his love for people, what Bible verses come to your mind? Perhaps it is the most well known verse in the Bible. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 The love that would cause God to sacrifice his own son. How about… “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 A love for us even while we were mired in the filth of sin. David told us 26 times in Psalm 136 “His love endures forever.” A love from God that is never ending.
How about: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 God’s love forever bound to his people. Jeremiah told us: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 The love that compels us to come to him. Of course, we have just caught the tip of the iceberg, because the Bible is riddled with affirmations of God’s love for his people.
I have a Bible verse that might be a bit outside of the paradigm for consideration as the best one to understand the depth of love that God has for people. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 Now, before you try to tell me the obvious, I know… I know… love isn’t mentioned in this verse, but consider the dichotomy that Jesus presents in this verse. There are two entities portrayed here by Jesus — the Thief… and Himself. One seeks only destruction of souls… one seeks to gift life to the very fullest to souls. One only seems to hate… the other… seems only to love. One desires death… while Jesus desires life. What does Jesus desire to do in peoples lives? He wants them to experience the fullest… the most abundant… the most joyful life possible. Now that’s love.
Recently, many observed Sanctity of Life Day, and I am pondering that Jesus is pro-life. The Thief? Oh, he wants to steal, kill and destroy… but Jesus desires for people to know the fullness of life that is discovered in Him. And he wants that abundant life reality for all people. While The Great Enemy desires death, Jesus seeks to bring true life. All life has value because the Giver Of Life creates all life. God knew everyone as they were conceived in the womb (Psalm 139), and he has good plans for those who seek him and come to know him (Ephesians 2:10)
Today, I am grateful for God’s love that endures forever and is demonstrated in the abundant life he gifts his people. God’s heart is that everyone would have life to the fullest!
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