God’s love is one of those topics that has been over taught. The verses that have been used to describe it have been over quoted. Not that they shouldn’t be, don’t get me wrong. But for many of us, we’ve grown numb to the information, not fully grasping it’s meaning within our hearts.
There are not many people on this planet that can’t quote John 3:16, and there aren’t many weddings that don’t contain some form of 1 Corinthians 13. Whether they actually believe it or not, most do know the argument that God is love.
With this in mind, how do we get to where God’s truth seeps in, past the hardness of our hearts? How do we open our eyes with the dawning of understanding?
Allow God to Touch your Heart in a Different Way
Before this can happen, we need to understand the true definition of God’s love. For me, this was done with new words and perspectives. This can be accomplished in so many ways, but I’m going to share with you the methods that God used to soften my heart and to turn it toward understanding.
Find Bible Studies about the Love of God
In the study, You Are Loved, written by Sally Clarkson and Angela Perritt, God’s love is described this way, relating it to a moment that Clarkson had with her daughter:
“Mama,” she said thoughtfully early one morning, “this is where I most belong, as close as I can get to you, because I can feel your love better when I am closer” …I loved it that she loves me! It didn’t matter what she had done the day before –
If she had cried a lot
or broken a mug full of juice
or fought with her brother
or disobeyed me
She did not have to promise to be more mature, or confess her faults, or stay away because of having a bad day the day before…I delighted having her near me…I loved her with my whole heart, and I loved knowing that she wanted to be close to me and that she depended on me for her security, protection, comfort, and love.
My love for her had nothing to do with her performance. My love was committed, solid, and constant because she was my beloved one.
This is a human picture of God’s parent love for us.
Read Fictional Stories Depicting God’s Love for Us
While fiction is not true, because of the creativity involved it can bring perspective to a topic in a way that a plain definition cannot. There is a reason that Jesus taught primarily in story through the use of parables.
In his book series, The Circle, Ted Dekker lays out God’s love for us in a unique way. He uses an allegory in the four-book series (titled Black, Red, White, and Green) to detail the intimacy of God’s romantic love for His church as a groom loves his bride. When I read this, I was floored by the combination of tenderness and intensity that this kind of love brings. Of course, these books are fictional, but the concept explained the love of God to me in a way that finally began to touch my heart.
Francine Rivers does the same in her book, Redeeming Love. This book is loosely based off of the first three chapters in Hosea and gives a fantastic picture of God’s longsuffering love and commitment to us.
Meditate on these Lesser-Known Scriptures on God’s Love
The Bible is actually one gigantic love story between God and His people. As you begin to read it more, this overwhelming theme will become apparent. If you struggle with ideas on how to do this, check out the blog post – 30 Unique Bible Study Methods for inspiration.
In the meantime, I hope these specific verses will speak to your heart the same way they spoke to mine:
1. God’s Love is Faithful
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9
2. God’s Love is Full of Compassion and Grace
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15
3. God’s Love is Available
I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. Proverbs 8:17
4. God’s Love is Cherishing
Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Isaiah 43:4
5. God’s Love is Permanent
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me.
Isaiah 49:16
6. God’s Love is Firm and Unshakable
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10
7. God’s Love is Life-Giving and Intimate
My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. Jeremiah 24:6-7
8. God’s Love is Forever
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” Jeremiah 31:3b
9. God’s Love is both Fierce and Tender
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
10. God’s Love is Committed and Sacrificial
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. John 13:1
11. God’s Love is Familial
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:17
12. God’s Love is Fearless
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
These are just a few verses and ideas for gaining a newer, better understanding of God’s love for us. There are so many things that we have been taught so often that we become calloused to the truth, let’s not let the love of God be one of them.
