| “…God showed his love among us…” |
| —1 John 4:9a |
In the early days of a romance, both parties look for signs of love in each other. This is especially true if one party has begun to feel himself or herself falling in love with the other person. Does he seem to love me? Do I see any sign of love from her?
Long before either party is willing to say the words “I love you,” each one is trying to find evidence that love has begun to bloom in the other. This searching for the return of love from someone we love is a normal and natural part of the exchange of human love. We always want to know if we can actually risk loving someone else, in the hope that our beloved will return his or her love to us.
When it comes to the amazing love that God has for those He has chosen to belong to Himself, what signs do we see that tell us He really does love us? The Apostle John offers these words of evidence in 1 John 4:9:
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
The sacrifice of God’s Son, Jesus, in our behalf on Calvary’s cruel cross is the most telling evidence of God’s love for us. What more evidence could we possibly require? Knowing without a doubt that God loves us with His unfailing, undying love, let us go out into this day with great joy and share the knowledge of His love with others.
The great hymn-writer, Charles Wesley (1707-1788) penned the following words that clearly express the enormity of God’s love for those who belong to Him:
And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?
Refrain:
Amazing love! How can it be
that Thou, my God, should die for me!
’Tis mystery all! Th’Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
Refrain:
Amazing love! How can it be
that Thou, my God, should die for me!
He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race;
'Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.
Refrain:
Amazing love! How can it be
that Thou, my God, should die for me!
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.
Refrain:
Amazing love! How can it be
that Thou, my God, should die for me!
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Refrain:
Amazing love! How can it be
that Thou, my God, should die for me!
God has shown us His love. Now, as the indwelling Holy Spirit enables us, let us live our lives through Him.
Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, February 3, 2016
