A Bible-believing evangelical church in the village of Wellington, near Hereford and Leominster.

Thought for the Day – 062

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Preached during the morning service on 22 May 2020 by .


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E V A N G E L I C A L WELLINGTON CHAPEL

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
DAY 6

21 John 4:8 — ‘He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.’
Recommended reading: 1 John 4:7-21

So often we become confused over God’s Mercy, Love and Grace. There are
similarities, but they are distinct from each other. Yesterday morning we
considered the Mercy of God. This morning I want to direct our thoughts to:

The Love of God.

God loves. We have experienced that many times throughout our Christian life.
But, 1 John 4:8 goes much further when it states: ‘God is love.’ This is true, not
only in His actions, but in His very nature.
I find that people talk quite casually about the love of God, yet these same
people are complete strangers to the God of love. There is a great gulf between
the two. It is the same when people talk about the peace of God, yet they know
nothing of the God of peace.
When we think of God, our human nature often kicks in and we think of human
love which governs our emotions. We mustn’t go in that direction.
So what does the Bible say about the love of God?

1. The love of God is not affected by situations that occur in our lives.

God’s love is spontaneous.
I have used this illustration before, but it is so appropriate to our subject this
morning.
C H Spurgeon was talking to a farmer who had recently erected on his barn a
weather vane. On the arrow he had inscribed the words, ‘God is Love.’
He said to the farmer, ‘What do you mean by having those words? Do you think
God’s love is changeable; that it veers about as the arrow turns in the wind?
The farmer replied, ‘Oh no! I mean that whichever way the wind blows, God is
still love.’

Events or circumstances in our lives will not change that fact.
Look at God’s people Israel as an example of spontaneous love.
Deuteronomy 7:7 — ‘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.’ There was nothing at all to attract God to Israel; in fact the
opposite. He chose Israel because He loved them. There can be no other reason.
Have you ever asked, ‘Why did God choose me?’ What is there in us to attract
God to us? There is more to repel Him! There is only one answer to that
question: He loved us. We love Him this morning because He first loved us.
Romans 5:8 says, ‘God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we
were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ No amount of religion, good works, money,
morality, obedience or even faith will ever earn such love.

2. The love of God is holy.

God is love, but He will never overlook sin whether it is in the world, or in us His
children. That love was clearly shown at Calvary. Here He forgives the sinner, but
deals severely with sin. People who turn their back upon God will never grasp
the enormity of his love. Sin must be dealt with because God is holy. At the
cross Jesus carried the burden of our sin alone, so that we would be spared God’s
wrath and face no condemnation.
Love is holy. God is holy. God is love. Notice how the characteristics of God
intertwine with each other, yet remain distinct from each other. The unbeliever
will never understand this, but for the Christian it is a glorious truth.

3. The love of God is everlasting.

Why? Because God is eternal. He is love and does not change His character.
Whatever concerns you this morning, whether it be health issues, bereavement,
unemployment, financial concerns, loneliness, family issues, or even death itself,
you are loved with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 — ‘Yes, I have loved you
with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.’
You will never find the beginning of God’s love, because there isn’t one. Neither
will you come to the end of God’s love, because there isn’t one. It has always
been there, and it will always remain there. It is eternal.

Let us rejoice this morning that we are safe and secure in the arms of Sovereign
love, and we forever shall remain there.

Loved with everlasting love,
led by grace that love to know;
Spirit, breathing from above,
you have taught me it is so;
O what full and perfect peace,
joy and wonder all divine!
In a love which cannot cease,
I am his and he is mine.

Heaven above is softer blue,
earth around is richer green;
something lives in every hue,
Christless eyes have never seen;
songs of birds in sweetness grow,
flowers with deeper beauties shine,
since I know, as now I know,
I am his and he is mine.

His for ever, his alone!
Who the Lord from me shall part?
With what joy and peace unknown
Christ can fill the longing heart!
Heaven and earth may fade and flee,
firstborn light in gloom decline,
but while God and I shall be,
I am his and he is mine.

George W Robinson, 1838-77
CCLI – 1050955

Pastor: Kristian Dimond 01432 830002 07810 442523 pastor@wellingtonec.org.uk
Elders: John Roberts 01432 830100 john@dayone.co.uk
Keith Weber 01568 611251 07436 005561 keith.smallprint@gmail.com
Wellington Evangelical Chapel, Wellington, Hereford HR4 8AX www.wellingtonec.org.uk Reg Charity No 233810
THE THOUGHT FOR THE DAY IS PREPARED BY JOHN ROBERTS