It is an overwhelming thought, a great motivation and provides amazing comfort to understand the depth of God’s love for His own. Jesus made an extraordinary comment on the night of His betrayal as He spoke to the 11 remaining apostles (Judas had already gone to betray Him). “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Abide in my love.” To the degree that God loved me – I love you. In the way the Father has loved me – I love you. Such a love is fixed, settled and unwavering. Such a love invites your “abiding.” To abide is to relax, make yourself at home, and settle in. You don’t have to impress Him. You do not have to gain His favor. You have it! You have it not because you perform up to standard but because of Christ. Christ’s perfect obedience has secured the Father’s love for the believer, so relax. Get off the treadmill of works and start striving in love. Start living out of gratitude instead of guilt.
It’s not that we do not strive. It is not that we do not struggle. Rather we live knowing love is not given as a reward or removed as punishment. God’s love for the believer is constant and unchanging because of the finished work of Christ laid to our account. We are not driven to obey in order to experience the love of God rather we are driven to obey because of our experience of God’s love. That is Gospel living.
I hope to see you and your family as we gather for worship this coming Lord’s Day.
Rod