Why Is Love Such a Big Deal? … Because it is God’s love.
“All we need is love … da,da,da,da,da;” that’s what the Beatles sang. The apostle Paul wrote, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (Galatians 5:6) And, if you ask almost anyone for the most important attribute of God, they will probably quote a verse without even realizing it; “God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
Jesus has made it clear that love is a big deal. He expressed this in Old Testament scriptural language. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. [And,] Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:30-31)
Since love is so important, let’s look at how it works. Let’s look at it in terms of this great command to love God and others. Our first and primary focus needs to be upon loving God with our entire selves. Our primary purpose in life – the reason we were created – is to use all of our faculties to understand and love God. We are designed to behold the invisible God, and responsively express love, adoration and thanks to Him. This is not because God is an egomaniac that needs to be adored; we worship because He IS that awesome. The only real and appropriate response to Him is all out, unmitigated, no holds barred worship and love – with everything that we have and are. When we approach God in this way, something always happens. In light of the reality of who Jesus is and what He has done for us, we experience the transcendent love of God. We begin to see ourselves as we really are – small and flawed, yet somehow lovable and unique. This love naturally – or more accurately, supernaturally – overflows from within us. And we, like God Himself, desire to express our love to others. This is God’s created order for the flow of love.
What most matters, however, is not that we love people out of our own love – these verses speak of much more love than that. Neither is it a matter of us loving others the way we love and care for ourselves – though that is pretty good by human standards. No, if we will love God with all that we are, we will begin to taste and experience miracles of love. We will apprehend God’s unfathomable love deep in our inner man. And, we will begin to love others miraculously – according to the love we have experienced from God. More precisely, when we experience God’s love, we begin to love ourselves according to His definitions and resources of love. It is out of this wholeness – this transformed and transforming place – that we love others. This is a Kingdom love – not just a sweet human effort. It is miraculous, and it begins with full on worship. Such worshipful love overflows and transforms everything. All we really need is love – this kind of Kingdom love which originates in heaven. So, let’s worship God here and now – and let His love miraculously move through us.
Seeking God’s Love With You,
Pastor Tom
tgriffith@rolcboston.org
