Leaving Our Old Life Behind through Baptism
August 15, 2026
God Demonstrated His Love Before He Commanded Us to Love
God Demonstrated His Love Before He Commanded Us to Love
The Love of God Strengthens Faith, Removes Fear, and Gives Courage to Stand
God proved His love through His sacrifice. He poured out His grace as an assurance of reconciliation. Though we were enemies of God, He demonstrated His love to build us up, not to condemn us (Rom. 5:8-10; Jn. 3:17). His love revealed His heart toward humanity in bondage and His desire to restore us to freedom (Gal. 5:1).
God holds all authority in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18), yet He chose to demonstrate His authority through love. His love does not humiliate or intimidate. Instead, it draws us close, removes fear, and gives us confidence in Him (1 Jn. 4:18). He left the ninety-nine to seek the one who was lost (Lk. 15:4-7), and even on the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them” (Lk. 23:34).
God’s love did not ignore accountability. The penalty for sin had to be paid (Rom. 6:23). God upheld His righteousness, yet He Himself paid the price through Christ (Rom. 3:25-26). Love took absolute responsibility instead of passing the blame. The cross, therefore, is not weakness; it is “the power of God” to those being saved (1 Cor. 1:18).
His love never compromised truth or righteousness to achieve results through shortcuts. Jesus rejected the devil’s temptations (Matt. 4:1-11) and spoke the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). He came to serve rather than to be served (Mk. 10:45) and had compassion on those who were like sheep without a shepherd (Matt. 9:36).
God first demonstrated the love He calls us to walk in. Because He is love, we learn love from Him (1 Jn. 4:8,19). We become imitators of God and “walk in love,” offering ourselves sacrificially (Eph. 5:1-2).
This love is not merely an external demonstration. His love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5). Therefore, our hope does not disappoint. The Holy Spirit makes God’s demonstrated love an inward assurance, strengthening our confidence in Him. Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God—even through tribulations (Rom. 5:1-5).
His love changes us from within. It delivers us from slavery and brings us into sonship (Rom. 8:15-17). It removes fear, shame, and doubt, giving us confidence before Him (1 Jn. 4:17-18). The God who holds absolute authority is also completely impartial; there is no partiality with God (Rom. 2:11).
When His love fills our hearts, our security is no longer rooted in ourselves or our circumstances. His love strengthens our faith to endure, fulfill our assignment, and courageously stand in truth.
SOW THIS WORD INTO YOUR SOUL
