Believe God’s Love

While studying this week's "Believe God’s Love" lesson, an old R&B song caught my attention: "Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher" by Jackie Wilson. The lyrics alone revealed a biblical truth that the Apostle John attempts to convey to his readers: that God is love, and accepting His love will empower you to overcome life’s woes and challenges. Additionally, the lyrics remind us that God’s love lifts us higher and higher, as reflected below:

You know your love (your love keeps liftin’ me) Higher and Higher

Now, once I was downhearted

Disappointment was my closest friend

But then you came, and he soon departed

And you know he never showed his face again.

If we deepen our understanding of the outcomes of loving the family of God, we gain a profound insight into the love that God demonstrated through His Son, Jesus. Loving everyone in the family of God means not limiting your love to denominational, social, political, or specific racial groups. Loving all in the family of God demonstrates God’s love to the world. Jesus’ crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection initiate the ultimate love that we must hold for the family of God. If other aspects of life matter more to you than your shared salvation with other believers, then our lordship over Jesus as the Christ is questionable. Since God initiated love, we must respond with the same love for His family. Any other response will create an unjustified alternative motive for any believer.

Therefore, remember to love as God loves, because God is love. The more we love, the closer we draw to Him as we prepare to face Judgment Day with boldness.