The Greatest Demonstration of Love

Have you ever heard of Søren Kierkegaard? He was a famous Danish theologian, but also a poet, philosopher, and author who passionately pursued his relationship with God. His writing urges readers to let go of empty practices in pursuit of a genuine, authentic relationship with the living, loving God. In Works of Love, Kierkgaard declared the answer to loneliness was love because love binds us to God and each other, saving us from isolation.
 

Kierkegaard understood what John wrote about God’s love for us in 1 John 4:15-19. Let’s read it together.

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.  And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.  There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. 

When we love God because He first loved us, our lives manifest His incredible love and it is the kind of love which is eternal. Kierkegaard’s lasting love affair with God was similar to the relationship Noah, Abraham, Moses ,and David had with God. They believed God, obeyed God, and loved God and though they were not perfect humans, they were passionate about their relationship with God.

Likewise, the people of Israel were not always faithful but often falling into a repetitive cycle of love given (by God), love rejected (by the people), and, finally, love accepted (through a covenant relationship). We see it in Deuteronomy 9:1-24 and Deuteronomy 32:1-43, just to name a few places, and yet through each of these cycles, God maintained His love, always caring for His people, always desiring a personal relationship with them even when their love for Him waned. 

Finally God sent His people the ultimate display of His love and affection – His one and only Son – Jesus Christ. What Jesus accomplished here on earth is the greatest demonstration of love the world has ever seen. May we thank God for His great love for us as we seek Him fervently.

Where are each of us right now? Do we understand we can’t earn God’s love? Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” God’s love and our significance are gifts. Have we reached the point where we understand if all we ever have in life is Jesus, He is enough? This is the place where we live for God and God alone. If the answer is yes, let’s pray, “God, I realize You are my only hope. This time, I will praise the Lord. I am significant to You.”