Measure of Love

When Jesus was speaking to His disciples in John 15:9, He says to them, As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you (NIV). When we take time to meditate upon the meaning of those words, we realize the fullness of its meaning. To know God loves us is comforting. In our limited thinking, we humans at times, attempt to measure God’s love, and we measure it according to the scales of our feelings, but that is a mistake.

When we are on mountaintops of great joy, we tell ourselves how wonderful is God’s love, but when we have slipped into valleys of sorrow, we question, where is God’s love, because we do not feel it. The truth is this: Jesus loves us the same as His Father loves Him. He has told us this; therefore, it is true because God does not lie, not ever. So, when the enemy shoots demonic fiery arrows of doubt, causing us to question God’s love, we can remind ourselves, Nothing can separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow — not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38 NLT).

When situations are calm in our lives, we can easily declare the certainty of God’s love for us, but when we are led through rivers of pain and fear, His love is just as certain. He will not leave us in difficult times nor ever abandon us to find our own source of comfort because God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1 KJV).

When we feel misunderstood and falsely accused by others, it is our Father’s love that will sustain us. We need not fear nor be caught in traps of anger because, God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you (II Thessalonians 1:6 NIV). When others deliberately seek to destroy our joy, mocking our faith, the love of God swoops down to cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection (Psalm 91:4 NLT).

When we are sick in heart or body, The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted: He rescues those whose spirits are crushed (Psalm 34:17-18 NLT). Does He heal everyone who asks healing of Him? Our inner spirits are renewed daily from disease of fear and anger and worry when we cry out to Him. Our bodies may or may not be healed on earth according to his perfect will for us, but ultimately, perfect healing comes when we see Him face to face. In that place He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever (Revelation 21:4 NLT). Even when the moment of death knocks on our door, we are so filled with the the heights of God’s love wrapping around us, that we invite it with longing to see Him because The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams (Psalm 23:1-2 NLT).

The Lord can love you no more nor any less than He does right now. It is perfect. It is complete. It is with you for eternity. Whether in good times or trouble, look to your Heavenly Father, for His love is ever present, perfect in strength and protection. His love will never, never, never be gone from you. When you are walking close to Him, His love rejoices over you. When you have sinned and turned away, His love beckons you back, and when you turn again to Him, His love rejoices all over again.

May you rejoice and bask in His love today.