THE LOVE OF GOD
Terry R. Baughman
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).
There is no place in the world where God’s love cannot reach. There is no limit to the boundless expanse of His mercy. Some may feel that they have a corner on the love of God or have a greater claim to His mercy, but the truth is His love is universal and available to anyone, anywhere on the planet.
Even to those who have responded to His love and embraced His grace it is difficult to fully comprehend how great and vast the compassion of our Savior really is. It is only in time as we experience more of His great love we begin to comprehend it. Paul wrote, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19).
We speak in terms of “width and length and depth and height,” but the love of God cannot be measured. These are terms of dimension, limits of increments and marks of measurement. God is greater than any box we can create for Him. What can be measured can be contained, what can be defined by dimension is limited regardless of how great that definition may be. Truthfully, the more you measure and mark the greatness of God the more you see in the distance of His expansion. God inhabits eternity and we will never be able to find the outer limits of His purpose nor the boundaries of His great love.
His love is pervasive in the positive sense of the word. It is spreading out in every direction. It exists everywhere you find God, and He is omnipresent. There is no where you can go to escape Him. David said,
Because God is love, everywhere you find Him you will also find love. Who would want to escape Him, who would want to flee from His presence? Even those who seek to evade Him will find Him pervading their conscience in the darkness of night and appearing in the most unlikely situations of life. God shows up because He cares, and because He is God He doesn’t give up. He will never force anyone to follow Him or respond to His love, but when you tire of running and despair of your own failures you will find Him ready to take the burden of sin and wrap you with garments of grace.
Scripture:
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Terry R. Baughman
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).
There is no place in the world where God’s love cannot reach. There is no limit to the boundless expanse of His mercy. Some may feel that they have a corner on the love of God or have a greater claim to His mercy, but the truth is His love is universal and available to anyone, anywhere on the planet.
Even to those who have responded to His love and embraced His grace it is difficult to fully comprehend how great and vast the compassion of our Savior really is. It is only in time as we experience more of His great love we begin to comprehend it. Paul wrote, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19).
We speak in terms of “width and length and depth and height,” but the love of God cannot be measured. These are terms of dimension, limits of increments and marks of measurement. God is greater than any box we can create for Him. What can be measured can be contained, what can be defined by dimension is limited regardless of how great that definition may be. Truthfully, the more you measure and mark the greatness of God the more you see in the distance of His expansion. God inhabits eternity and we will never be able to find the outer limits of His purpose nor the boundaries of His great love.
His love is pervasive in the positive sense of the word. It is spreading out in every direction. It exists everywhere you find God, and He is omnipresent. There is no where you can go to escape Him. David said,
- “Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:7-10
Because God is love, everywhere you find Him you will also find love. Who would want to escape Him, who would want to flee from His presence? Even those who seek to evade Him will find Him pervading their conscience in the darkness of night and appearing in the most unlikely situations of life. God shows up because He cares, and because He is God He doesn’t give up. He will never force anyone to follow Him or respond to His love, but when you tire of running and despair of your own failures you will find Him ready to take the burden of sin and wrap you with garments of grace.
Scripture:
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
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