Behold What Love

*Behold What Love*

"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love;
and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." 1 John 4:16

Ina scene in a popular movie, Johnny Depp played a character who lectured
his friend about the important things in life. "There are only four
questions," he said. "What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What
is worth living for, and what is worth dying for?" Then he said softly,
"The answer to each is the same: only love."

That's true, although not as Hollywood thinks or portrays. To the world,
love is a shallow, fickle, and often fleeting sentiment. To the Christian,
it is an unchanging, unconditional, unfaltering, divine reality. God is
love, and He demonstrated His love when He sent Himself in the form of His
Son Jesus Christ, to die for us and redeem us from our sins. "In this was
manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only
begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is
love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be
the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:9-10). This love is sacred; it's
from Him. It gives meaning to our lives and calls us to give ourselves for
others. Unfortunately, we can't control how another views us, nor can we
command love from another person. But the Lord's love for us will never
falter; we're secure in His love.

The language God used to share His love for us is found in His Word, in His
actions at the cross, and in His plan for our eternal future. "Behold,
what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be
called the sons of God" (1 John 3:1). It's a love we can both know and
rely on today. And it is this divine love that forms the foundation of our
love for others - "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one
another ... If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is
perfected in us" (1 John 4:11-12).

*Lord, I know not what I ought to ask of Thee; Thou only knowest what I
need; Thou lovest me better than I know how to love myself. (Francois
Fenelon)*