-- The Depth of Love--
1 John 4:7-11
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love . 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love , not that we loved God , but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins . 11 Beloved, if God so loved us , we also ought to love one another .”
As many people who stand at the south rim of the Grand Canyon and look out, all share in virtually the same experience, the gasp of breath. The visual shock of something of this magnitude takes your first breath away. It doesn't really matter that you have seen it before, the results are the same. Yet, as you look out across the great expanse, you still cannot see to the very bottom. Unless you are lifted up to a vantage point above the canyon to look straight down you cannot know the true depth.
The depth of love is very similar in imagery to this example. We get a look at the love of God in the writing of the word of God described in the image and details of His Son. The imagery is so powerful it takes our breath away at first look. Yet often we cannot see the true depth of God's love. However, if we understand one very important fact we can be lifted up to see the depth of God's love.
Close your eyes and think to yourself of the most horrible sins you have ever committed. Do you feel the shame of your actions, the overwhelming guilt? Now consider that God sent His only begotten Son to suffer so that you could be forgiven completely of these sins. The depth of His love is that He loved us even at our worst. This is not to say that He loved the evil things we did, it is to say that He provided a way for us to rise above them.
This has application in every aspect of our lives as children of God. A love that lasts is a love that reaches to the depth of the worst moments we share with the ones we love.
We cannot love a brother unless we are willing to go to this depth.
We cannot love a wife unless we are willing to go to this depth.
We cannot love a child unless we are willing to go to this depth.
This is what it is to practice righteousness and to be born of God, note: 1 John 3:10
“In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.”
“O to be like Thee! Full of compassion, Loving, forgiving, tender and kind, Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting, Seeking the wand' ring sinner to find.” (“O To Be Like Thee” Thomas O Chisholm; Wm. J. Kirkpatrick)
Special Thanks to: David G., Katie H., and Farren F.