God Loves Me… Now What?

I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of a single thing in this world I want badly enough to make me give up one of my sons. Nor can I think of any situation that would warrant such an act. I don’t care what the benefit or gain may be—for me or for someone else—it’s not worth the lives of my sons. They may be flawed, and they may drive me crazy some days, but they (and my husband) are the most precious things to me in this entire world. No way I’m giving them up for something or someone wholly unworthy of such a sacrifice.

But then again, I’m human. I’m not God. God’s ways are not our ways, His thoughts not our thoughts.

Because that’s exactly what He did. He gave his only son (Jesus) — His one, perfect, sinless Son — to die, because He knew it was the only way you and I could ever spend eternity in His presence. Jesus’ death paid the penalty for our sins so we can instead be rendered spotless, sinless, holy… like Jesus… worthy of the presence of God.

Wait, He gave what?? His only child?!? For ME??!?!!?

Now that’s a generous love, a depth of love I can hardly fathom. Worthy of such a gift I’m decidedly not. 

One could argue that perhaps it wasn’t a big deal for God the Father, that in his omniscience and almighty-ness He already knew His Son would rise up from the dead three days later. That may be true, but oh, the deep and painful separation He must have felt for those three days!! The pain we feel after the death of a loved one is but a taste of that separation. God knew that to save me — little, flawed, undeserving me — He’d have to turn His back on His only Son, knowing we (sinful humans) would wring every last drop of life out of Jesus.

But He did it anyway. God the Father gave His Son. The Son took all of my sins (and yours) and laid down His life, sacrificially, willingly. There was no other way. Nothing and no one else could pay our debt for sin.

All God asks in return is that we believe in His Son, Jesus.

Wow.

God loves me enough to give up His Son? That’s someone I want to love in return!

But how?? 

Jesus gave his life in place of ours, and the least we can do is give our lives back to Him. To repent of our old, sinful ways and instead follow Him wholly and completely, holding nothing back.

As believers, we should spend time reading and studying His word (the Bible). If for some reason it were necessary for you and your spouse to continue your relationship long-distance for a while (whether it be work duties or something else), and the only way for you to communicate was through written letters, I suspect you wouldn’t speed-read or discard any of those communications. On the contrary, I suspect you would instead hang on every word, re-read the letter multiple times, and maybe even memorize it. Every word from your loved one is precious. Such is God’s Word to us. The Bible is His written love letter to us, telling us exactly what He thinks of us, how much He loves us, what He’s done for us, what He promises to us, and His wisdom for our daily lives. It would behoove us to spend time every day reading His words and getting to know Him even better. Every word from Him is precious.

As believers, we should live our daily lives according to His Word. As we read His word, we should not only think about how it applies to our lives, but also take action. Don’t make His Word fit your life, but instead make your life fit His Word. The Bible is full of His instructions on how to raise our children, handle difficult situations and people, spend our money and our time, and love our neighbors. We can love God by living the way He instructs. After all, He created us, and He knows what’s best for His creation!

As believers, we should spend time in prayer with Him. Relationships require communication. Husbands and wives must learn to communicate well to sustain their marriage. Friends must stay in communication, or the relationship goes stale. Parents and children must communicate well with each other — both talking and listening — or it becomes very difficult to impart or learn wisdom. The same is true with our heavenly Father. Without clear and consistent communication, making time regularly to share our hearts with Him and listen for His response, our relationship can become stagnant. As we spend more time talking with Jesus, we have less time for other (perhaps ungodly) influences. Jesus says in John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” To know our Shepherd’s voice, we must listen to Him, talk with Him, and get to know Him intimately.

As believers, we should spend time with other believers doing these same things: reading, studying, praying, and following Him. I confess: I’m an introvert of introverts. I enjoy being alone, lost in my own thoughts and interests and tasks. I’m the queen of homebodies. As awful as the pandemic of 2020 was, if I’m honest I really enjoyed not having to go anywhere or see anyone for a few weeks. I did miss seeing my parents and in-laws, but for the most part, it was pure bliss to be appointment- and commitment-free for awhile. However, that’s not how God calls us to live. Just as Adam needed a helpmeet and God created Eve, he designed us humans to need each other. We are called to fellowship with each other, help each other, bear each other’s burdens, minister to one another, and worship with each other. Just as shepherds use pens to protect their herds, God uses fellow believers to keep us close in His fold, away from the devouring wolves. We should resist the urge to isolate ourselves or do everything on our own, because that’s not how He designed us. We are all parts of His body on this earth, designed to work together as a whole, not isolated and alone. 

So how do we love God? By keeping His commandments. Jesus said to his disciples in John 15:10, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (NKJV). As His disciples, that’s exactly what we should do.

 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. — John 3:16