For the Love of God

For the Love of God

It is amazing how God brought to our attention the true meaning of His Ten Commandments that some people thought they were given to scare  us or frighten us from our relationship with Him or with each  other. That is not true. When the Pharisee asked God “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” (Matthew 22:36), the Lord answered and said “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40). Although these are not written in the Ten Commandments, the Lord wanted  to summarize the two tablets carrying the commandments in those two phrases when He said“On these two command ments hang all the Law”, meaning remember this one word “LOVE” for both God and your neighbor.

So, there is nothing scary or frightening. It is all a matter of love. But the question is: how can we fill our hearts with this great love so we can fulfill the commandments with joy and happiness? St. Paul answered that question saying: “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)  What that means? God’s love is DEEP! And, God’s love has nothing to do with you! Others may love you because you are nice, rich, fun to be around, or a family (and they have to love you). But, not God! God loves you simply because He wants to love you. He chose to love you. He decided to love you. God loves you because “God  is love” (1 John 4:8, 16).

God’s LOVE is known through all history past, present and future. It is not true what people say that God was harsh in the Old Testament. Listen to what God told Israel: “The Lord did not set His love on you  nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). We are all familiar with human love. There’s “puppy” love, Grand-parent love, “first” love, a love for the arts, a love of chocolate, etc. We have all kinds of friends; “fair-weather”, “long-distance”, “new” “old”, “former”, “close” friends. This is human love, and human love is fickle, sporadic, temporary, and conditional. But, God is love, and His love is unconditional, constant, and perfect. You can’t influence God’s love, because God is love. The Lord Jesus didn’t go to the cross because of any love you had for Him or for any influence you placed on Him. St. Paul tells us: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) The Lord Jesus must have really loved you to do what He did for you, because, your sins put Him there. We look at some people: they have money, a good job, good health, live a good life, have a good family and marriage, etc. We think, “God must really love them … look at how much He has blessed them!” Or, we look at others: they have problems, are sick, poor, have lost their job, or are plagued with family or marital problems. We think“God must not really love them look at all the problems they have!”

NONSENSE! Forget those thoughts. Circumstances have nothing to do with God’s love. When everything seems to be going wrong, God still loves you. When everything seems to be going right, God still loves you. If you want a gauge of God’s love … a yardstick to measure His love … don’t look at circumstances, look at the cross! Jeremiah tells us “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you.” (Jeremiah 31:3) So, now, what do we need to do to experience God’s love? Just receive it. Why? Because nothing can separate you from God’s love. This is what the Bible teaches us “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (Romans 8:35) Look at how St. Paul leads up to this statement. In Romans 8:28 we read the familiar verse “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” This is a demonstration of God’s love, that all things, all circumstances, all problems, all blessings, everything that comes our way, is a demonstration of His love for us                                           

But sometimes you wonder: “If God loves me that much, why everybody and everything is against me, why must we suffer from sickness, disease aches and pains, why that terrible pressure from my peers, why can’t I get along with people, and how can I handle all that life throws at me? Can God handle all of this for me?” The Bible, as always have all the answers. It tells us: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us. He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32)                                

So, while I may have problems with life’s difficulties, God isn’t fazed. God is greater than anything life throws at you. Is there a problem God can’t handle? No! That’s how much He loves you! Just trust in Him and in His promises. Open your heart to receive and enjoy His love and don’t stop there. Reflect that love and joy unto others by making God’s love flood your life. Wake up in the morning and bask in the sunshine of His love. Go to bed at night and rest in the comfort of His love. Live in His love, immerse yourself in His love, and fill your life with His love. Let His love over-power you, indwell you and surround you.

Please do it “For the Love of God!” Glory be to Him, now and forever. Amen.