God Is Love
Scripture Reading — 1 John 4:7-21
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
—1 John 4:8
You can’t take the love out of God and still have God. Love is God’s nature; it defines God’s core. If God had DNA, each of his genes would be encoded with love.
We tend to place limits on our love, but God’s love is unconditional. King David was an adulterer, the apostle Paul was a murderer, and one of Jesus’ disciples, Peter, was a betrayer. But none of them ever reached the end of God’s love. Each was used mightily in God’s kingdom.
You and I will never reach the end of that love either (see Romans 8:38-39). As we look to Jesus and the cross, we will discover God’s love for us again and again.
That’s the love we’re free to share as people who practice Sabbath keeping. It’s not a love we somehow muster up from within ourselves; it’s God’s love that we’re called to share! God’s love gives, shows mercy, heals, and forgives.
We’re free to share the love of God every day. Sabbath is about a lifestyle that we engage in every day. As we grow in our willingness and ability to share God’s love with others, we soon discover new depths of God’s mercy toward us, and new ways of sharing that mercy with others each day of our lives.
We stand amazed, O God, at how deep and full your love is! Thank you that in Jesus you never stop loving us. May we learn to more fully share that love with others. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
About the author — Shawn Brix
Rev. Shawn Brix has served as pastor in several Ontario churches. He and his wife, Jenny, have three children.
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