I John 4:16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

    My mother loved me. I never doubted it. She was encouraging and demanding. She was my biggest fan and my biggest critic. She was generous, and she took things from me. She hugged me, and on occasion, she spanked me. She loved me. 

    God is love. John makes a clear, definitive statement. Elsewhere in Scripture we learn that God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His love is a characteristic of Himself, not of my worthiness. He loves because it is His nature to love. 

    But we should be careful to think of love as He does. If we hold to a view of love of our own design, we will likely misunderstand God in possibly catastrophic ways. God loved Job, yet allowed him to suffer tremendous loss. God loved Joseph, yet allowed him to be sold into slavery. God loved Daniel, yet allowed his nation to be destroyed. God loved the apostles, yet allowed them all to go through painful trials. But in all of these examples God also showed His love in ways we would expect.

    Sometimes God’s love feels wonderful! It’s one blessing after another that inspires smiles and, hopefully, great gratitude. Sometimes His love feels much different as we endure pain without relief. But God is love. God does love. The question is, do I trust Him? Even when it’s hard? Do I remain?

    When mom had a certain look on her face and a rubber spatula in her hand, I knew what was coming. But she loved me. If I had run away in the difficult moments, I would never have experienced the deep love that was an extended relationship with one who cared for me. If we turn from God when things are hard, we will miss out on the best relationship we could ever have. 

    But if we remain in love - when it’s good when it seems not so good - we will remain in God and, better yet, He will remain in us!

Blessings,

Pastor Russ