Love of God There is a great comfort in the assurance that God’s love and mercy will never be kept from us, no matter the degree of adversity or challenge. All that is provided in this love can anchor the soul in a hope that will not be shaken through the greatest of storms. As great as God’s love is, though, it’s not His love for us that determines our position with regard to Him and all that His love provides. His love has no variance nor shadow of turning. Instead, it is our love of Him, something that is subject to change, that opens the door to all that is ours in Him. Jesus indicated that all we’re required to do is love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, and strength, and our neighbor as our self. In this giving of our heart completely to loving God there is power to overcome in every area of life and to live in the righteousness and godliness where His love’s blessings reside. When we’re tempted in a way that has a history of overtaking us, there is an opportunity to activate God’s provision of overcoming grace by simply acknowledging the nearness of all He’s provided in our new life and allowing the heart to be overwhelmed with love for Him. Passions that would ensnare and enslave lose their hold where passion for His presence is embraced. No matter how great the trial that would threaten us here on earth, there is nothing that can disable our ability to endure and prevail by activating triumphant faith in loving the Greater One. As essential is this love of our God, it isn’t just up to us to work it up from a sense of obligation or necessity. It is actually the first, and most prominent fruit of the Spirit’s fulness. In the welcoming of the Spirit’s residence there is an ever-growing nature of love that is shown. This will spread to those around us, but first and most effectively, it will be shown towards our God, the one who has given us His own love nature. Walking and triumphing in this love of God is the promised life for all those who are born anew in Christ. It is the delight and joy of those who are new creations in Him, His prized descendants. Notes The necessity of love: 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV) 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. “Love” – the condition of the heart that enables the actions of faith from the conviction of hope Who’s love – for who? Matthew 22:37-39 (TPT) 37 Jesus answered him, “‘Love the Lord your God with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, and with every thought that is within you.’ 38 This is the great and supreme commandment. 39 And the second is like it in importance: ‘You must love your friend in the same way you love yourself.’ Love of God: God’s love Our love for God God kind of love Love of God: Acknowledge God’s passion, protection, provision, providence Acting like it matters Faith - In Christ – ability to experience delivering power of loving God – no matter what Romans 8:38-39 (NKJV) 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Hope - What we look forward to is anchored by Holy Spirit poured love for God Romans 5:5 (NKJV) 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Coming to Jesus for life – results in love finding residence inside John 5:39-42 (NKJV) 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. 41 "I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. Hearts in need of love direction 2 Thessalonians 3:5 (NKJV) 5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. To love God is to follow Christ’s walk 1 John 2:4-6 (NKJV) 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. Evidence of loving God – authentic deeds/confidence 1 John 3:17-21 (NKJV) 17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. Love of God – love for His children/His will/His promises 1 John 5:1-4 (NKJV) 1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Security for loving God – praying in the Spirit that is motivated by eternal life in His mercy Jude 1:17-21 (NKJV) 17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Overview: Love is what enables the actions of faith from the convictions of hope. While His love has made it possible, it’s our love of Him that changes everything. Cannot know love without first coming to God have it reside inside. Loving God comes with loving His children and His ways. Our part in loving God is receiving the fulness of His Spirit and its fruit. Prayer: Lord, I desire to discover more of what Your love has provided for me in Christ by the Holy Spirit, and to embrace with all that’s in me the nature of love that is mine there in Him. Fill me with the passion for You, Your ways, and all that is Yours that enables my victorious and abundant living for Your glory. Declarations: By receiving new life in Christ, I have received the most powerful nature of love for God. In the embrace of God with all my heart, soul, and strength, faith is activated to make all things possible. I overcome every stronghold, attack, and failure by running to my love of God and disabling any separation from Him. I am kept safely in His love by living and walking in His Spirit, communicating continually with Him in the Spirit.