In the Old Testament, God asks, speaking of Israel, "'What more was there to do for My vineyard, that I have not done in it?'" (Isaiah 5:4). God gave Israel all she could need: fertile land, peace from neighbors (when Israel was faithful and obedient), priests and prophets, and a way to know the God of everything. "'I have loved you with an everlasting love,'" God told His people. "'Yet you have not listened to Me...'" (Jeremiah 31:3; Jeremiah 25:7).
When Jesus came, He spent His life glorifying God by loving those He met. He taught them, healed them, served them - giving His time, energy, wisdom, patience... "Now...when Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end" (John 13:1). He spent His life loving and when the time came, He showed the extent of His love by willingly giving His life.
Love songs abound as well as differing opinions on what love is. In 1 John, we find God's definition of love: "By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us... " (1 John 3:16). The entire Bible is written from a loving God to people who never deserve that love yet have always received it. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1). When we wake up every day, we should count the many blessings we have received from our loving God. The One who created the entire universe has lovingly given us opportunity to pursue a close relationship with Him. God has given us salvation, His Word, family, an education... On top of all that, He proves His love a thousand other ways a day that we often take for granted. The most often-quoted verse in the Bible speaks of God's great love for us, stating that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son" (John 3:16, emphasis added). As Stuart Townend wrote,
Love songs abound as well as differing opinions on what love is. In 1 John, we find God's definition of love: "By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us... " (1 John 3:16). The entire Bible is written from a loving God to people who never deserve that love yet have always received it. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1). When we wake up every day, we should count the many blessings we have received from our loving God. The One who created the entire universe has lovingly given us opportunity to pursue a close relationship with Him. God has given us salvation, His Word, family, an education... On top of all that, He proves His love a thousand other ways a day that we often take for granted. The most often-quoted verse in the Bible speaks of God's great love for us, stating that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son" (John 3:16, emphasis added). As Stuart Townend wrote,
"How deep the Father's love for us,How vast beyond all measure,That He should give His only SonTo make a wretch His treasure."
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