Articles
Overlooked Evidences of the Love of God
“God is love” (1 John 4:8), and the greatest evidence of that love is the gift of His Son for our salvation (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). Another way we know He loves us is seen in the abundant blessings He showers on us daily.
God’s love, however, has less obvious facets. In fact, the following evidences of His love may actually seem the very opposite—until we understand how His love works.
1) God’s discipline. “For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives’ . . . . He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness” (Hebrews 12:6, 10 NASB). We can accept discipline from God so much better when we see it as evidence of His love for us, just as our children need to realize that we discipline them because we love them.
2) God’s jealousy. In connection with the command, “You shall have no other gods before Me,” God says, “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God . . .” (Exodus 20:3, 5 NASB). The book of Hosea develops the theme of God as a rejected lover who yearns for a restored relationship with His unfaithful bride Israel. As J. I. Packer has written, “. . . Scripture consistently views God’s jealousy . . . as an aspect of His covenant love for His own people” (Knowing God, p. 154).
3) God’s NOs. Sometimes God says No when we pray. When this happens, do we feel that God does not care, or on the other hand, do we trust that He knows what is best? God said No to David’s prayer that his infant’s life be spared (2 Samuel 12:15-23). God said No to Paul’s prayer that his thorn in the flesh be removed (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). God said No even to His own Son’s prayer to be spared the cross (Matthew 26:36-46). If God said No to them, should we be surprised if He denies some of our requests?
God loves us so much that “He disciplines us for our good . . . .” God loves us so much that it hurts Him deeply when we do not put Him first in our lives. God loves us so much that He must sometimes say No when we pray.
God loves us far more than we can know.
