Stoned-Campbell Disciple

“Love, Love, Love, Love,
the Gospel in a word is Love ...“

Long before Jesus was born a sage penned a book that exercised a large influence on the early Way. Among its many profoundly beautiful words we read,

“But You are merciful to all, for you can do all things, and You overlook people’s sins, so that they may repent. For You LOVE ALL THINGS that exist, and detest none of the things You have made, for You would not have made anything if You had hated it … You spare all things, for they are Yours, O Lord, you who love the living” (Wisdom of Solomon 11.23-26).

You likely know that last line (v.26) as “lover of our souls” through Charles Wesley’s classic hymn based on that line from the King James Version of the Book of Wisdom (it was located in the Apocrypha of the KJV).

But I opened with a song we were singing in our head. You have the tune in your head as you read those words. Love is the language of God. Love is the heart of God. Love is God. God created the universe out of love. God created the universe to express love. God created the universe to experience love. God’s love is first, it is never second.

Love /Hesed is the beginning.

Love/Hesed is the middle.

Love/Hesed is the ending.

Yes. Love is the “ending.” Love is our destiny, not just our origination. When we listen to Scripture there are five epic truths proclaimed about God’s love. We do not think about them nearly enough.

First. God’s love is infinite. God’s love is “new every morning.“

Second. God’s love is gratuitous and therefore completely unconditional. While we were not only “sinners” but “enemies” God demonstrated unconditional love by sending Christ as an atoning sacrifice in order to “prove/demonstrate” his love.

Third. God’s love is universal. God’s love is not for a privileged nation but all creation. “For God so loved the world …” This is both human and non-human.

Fourth. God’s love is indiscriminately forgiving of every person and every deed. “Father forgive them …” the Messiah pleads.

Fifth. The goal of God’s love is love. God’s love expressed to us pulls us into the union/communion/fellowship of love between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Heaven is the communion of love.

Love is our Destiny!

Read. Ruminate. Pray these texts: Exodus 34.6; Psalm 103, Psalm 104, Psalm 107, Psalm 136; Lamentations 3.22-24; John 3.16; Romans 5.6-11; 1 John 4.7-21; Wisdom of Solomon 11.23-24

This entry was posted on Monday, January 27th, 2025 at 10:23 am and is filed under Christian hope, Grace, Heaven, Love. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.