Focus or Fact (1 John 3:1; 4:7-11 and 19 ESV)

 

Is love a fact or a feeling?

When we think in terms of God, then I'd say it's a fact.  God demonstrated His love towards us by sending His only begotten Son into this world of darkness (see John 3:16 and 1 John 4:9).

Jesus bought our pardon and presented us with the gift of salvation.  This is fact.  Absorb it into your thinking and heart.

Once this fact is absorbed, we can know, understand and have the feeling of being truly loved.  This love that goes all out and spares no expense.

It puts me in mind of one of those traditional old pieces - hymns of yore - entitled "The Love of God."

The first stanza's opening lines reads,

"The love of God is greater far 

Than tongue or pen can ever tell ..."

Surely we do have some challenge to describe God's love.  The author of this hymn, Frederick M. Lehman (at least the first two stanzas), does do some justice to it.  He uses such words as,

"Measureless, strong, forever endures, goes beyond, reaches to lowest hell, reconciles, pardons sin, redeems; redeeming grace, and can never drain the ocean of it dry"

to name a few.  Look the hymn up and read the lyrics.

The focus verses say God's love was

"bestowed upon us" (1 John 3:1). 

Because of His love and our acceptance of His salvation, God's love causes us to be

 "called children of God" (1 John 3:1).

When we love God (because He first loved us - 1 John 4:10) then His love causes us to love others, even our enemies.  We will come to know God because He is love.

God's love created the action of love which accomplished propititaion for our sins through His Son Jesus.  With this appeasement and price for our sins met, then we

 "ought to love one another."  

This is what God's love does.

So when we focus on the fact and not the feelings we will be able to recoup our first love.  That is, we often feel dry in our souls due relying on feelings.  "Oh yes, I love the Lord," but our love for Him often becomes variegated.  We need to remember His love for us is steadfast, immovable and immeasurable.

So we need to go back to fact.  Yes, God loves us.  Jesus loves us.  He demonstrated His love for us at great cost to Himself.

Let's think on these things.

                                                      ~ ERC  October 2025 ~

Based on 1 John 3:1; 4:7-11 and 19.  Loosely based on Step 3 God Loves You from 50 Steps With Jesus.  Authors Dr. Ron and Marsha harvell with Wendy K. Walters.

Sing, The Love of God is Greater Far, along with the Gaithers.