Do you ever wonder what God’s purpose is for your life? Why are you here?
If you are like most Christians, you know God created you for a purpose. While the specifics of what God wants each of us to do will vary, there is a common thread to God’s plans: We are to love.
Love is the essence of God’s character. He loves us and wants to share His nature with us. He wants us to love people just like He does. In God’s amazing provision for us, His love transforms us, making us our true selves, so that we actually radiate His love to others.
Jesus highlighted this love on the night before He was betrayed. He gave His disciples a going-forward command—that came with a promise. He told them, A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have love you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:34-35, NKJV).
So how did God provide so that we could obey Jesus’ command to love others like He loved us? How does He make a way for us to be His disciples?
God gives us the LOVE with which to love.
John the apostle explains, We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19, NKJV).
God loved us first. His love for us is perfect and powerful. You are loved by Someone who always wants to be with you, knows what is best for you, will never give up on you and wants you to partner with Him in sharing His love with others.
God is the source of the love. It starts with Him. We can’t generate it or work it up in ourselves. We just give away the love we have received. We love others only by sharing the love He first gave to us. The more we understand the depths of God’s love for us, the more fully we will love others. It is only God’s love that enables s to love those who are unlovely, repulsive . . . even our enemies.
God gives us the CAPACITY to love.
God is love (1 John 4:16, NKJV) and He created us in His image (see Genesis 1:27). We were designed both to be loved and to love others.
As a human being, God made you to be loved and to give love to others. Just as you have the capacity to breathe in and exhale air, you have the capacity to receive love and give it away to others. The hardware for loving is built into your very being.
Sin has disabled the love software, but when we receive Jesus and come to experience God’s love for us, our hearts are restored. We become part of God’s family—and inherit His new nature. As His children, God wants our nature to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus. He made us to reflect the family trait of love.
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us (Ephesians 5:1-2, NKJV).
God gives us the VISION which enables us to love.
Our natural vision is colored by the world, but knowing God’s love allows us to see people the way God sees them.
The world gives us one definition of who has worth and who does not. But God gives us a different definition. All are worthy in His sight. God sees beyond the external appearance to the inner person.
Knowing God’s love gives us God’s spiritual eyes so we can see the incredible value of every human soul. When we know God’s love for us, we know His love for others.
God gives us the OPPORTUNITY to love.
Christ lives in you! You are His physical vessel through whom He ministers to people here on earth. By His sovereign orchestration, He places you where He wants you and brings people to your attention that need to experience His love flowing through you.
You are Christ’s mouth, His hands and feet. People see Jesus in you and feel His love through you. That is God’s desire for you. When you receive God’s love, you also receive the ability and desire to give that love away to others. You were created to be a child of God and a disciple of Jesus—filled to overflowing with the love of God.
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, jus as ours does for you (1 Thessalonians 3:12, NIV).
Go Deeper
- Read:
Abundant Life in God’s Love
- Watch:
A Life Characterized by Love
- Download:
Timeless Love, Transforming Love