The love God cherishes for us

The Verse of the Day for September 15, 2019 comes from 1 John 4:16 in the Amplified Bible:

And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.

In 1 John 4:8 (AMP) we also find an expression of who God is and a portrait of the person who does not respond to God’s love:

He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.

For Christian believers nothing is more satisfying than to know that God is love and that God loves us, and nothing can separate us from that love. Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) reiterates this powerful declaration:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This passage from Romans 8 relates the constancy of the love of God which never fails. In a previous blog entry, I commented, “No matter the circumstances of our lives, whether on the pinnacles of success and dreams come true or in the pits of disappointment and failure, we are assured that God loves us. I recall a statement from the late Dr. Adrian Rodgers, “God cannot love us any more than He does, and He will not love us any less.”

God desires that each individual believer might know Him and experience His unconditional love, that is, to have a personal knowledge of who He is, to know Him as a loving father. This kind of knowing is more than “head knowledge” but relates to “heart knowledge.” A person may “know” by name the CEO of the company where that individual works, but the same person also “knows” to a far greater degree a co-worker who happens to be a close friend.

God desires that we know him, as He expresses His deep desire for intimacy on a very personal level. We come to know God through the Word of God which makes known the love of God. As we establish and maintain our relationship with Him, we also experience the love of God, the most powerful force in the universe. Once an individual knows God on such an intimate, experiential level, that person “knows for himself or herself,” and that individual is forever changed.

The closing verses of Ephesians 3 reveal God’s desires that we experience His love, expressed in this prayer:

To Know the Love of Christ

To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge;
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:19

Father, expand our minds and widen our comprehension
To know Your love in an even fuller dimension.
As we call upon Your name and bow in humility,
Help us to see to an even greater degree.
Enlighten our eyes with the wisdom that comes from above.
You call us beloved, worthy of endless love.
When tempted, knowing You love us dispels all fear.
As we seek to please You, open our ears that we might hear
Your word and endeavor to hide it deep within our heart.
Despite past failures, misdeeds, and shortcomings on our part,
Your love is constant and never changes but ever grows
And unfolds in matchless beauty a dew-kissed rose.
No force on Earth, no power in heaven above,
Not death nor life can separate us from your love.

We conclude with a Truth Song “The Love of Christ” based on Ephesians 3:17b-19

And to know the love of Christ

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.

1 John 4:16 NIV

Walk in love, as Christ also loved us

Taken from Ephesians 5:1-2, the Verse of the Day for January 7, 2019, offers this exhortation from the New American Bible—Revised Edition:

So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma…

The Amplified Bible puts it this way:

Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].
2 and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

The Verse of the Day speaks of being followers or imitators of God and provides a notable example of such a faithful follower, as displayed in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, the ultimate illustration of “Like father, like son.”
This passage from Ephesians also brings to mind 1 John 4:16, expressed in the Amplified Bible this way:

16 And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.

In 1 John 4:8 we find an expression of who God is:

He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.

For Christian believers nothing is more satisfying than to know that God is love and that God loves us. We can thus, follow Christ’s example as we offer our lives as sacrificial expression of our devotion to God.

Here is another expression related to our discussion of walking in love:

Also

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us,
and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice
to God for a sweet-smelling savor

Ephesians 5:2

We must exercise authority and know who we are.
We must then walk in the fullness of that authority
We must also recognize that our hands were made to war,
As we demonstrate the power within that all might see.

We must walk in love, for love is the more excellent way.
We know love alone is the standard by which we measure.
We seek to please God and pour love upon all we do and say.
We must love as Christ loved, for love is a priceless treasure.

We also learn that our lives should reflect our stewardship.
We know each steward shall be called to give a full account,
God, our Father, evaluates our life-long fellowship,
And assesses our service and then totals the amount.

Even more than sacrifice, God seeks our obedience,
As we too seek to fulfill the Father’s deepest desire.
We learn that to obey is the highest form of reverence:
To be like Christ is the model toward which we all aspire.

Once more God tempers authority with love; this we know:
As dear children, we learn to steward and obey also.

Elevation Worship offers “Walk in Love” inspired by Ephesians 5:1-2 and other verses:

 

Be imitators of God and walk in love

Revised and re-posted, the Verse of the Day for September 7, 2017, offers this exhortation found in Ephesians 5:1 which is complete by adding verse 2:

Ephesians 5:1-2 (AMP):

Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].

² and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

As believers we are to be imitators or mimics of God, our Father. In a similar manner to a young boy who wants to walk in his father’s shoes and wear his father’s hat, we are to be followers of God. Our lives are to be filled to overflowing with love. Our lives should be a reflection of the saying, “Like father, like son.”

This passage from Ephesians 5 also brings to mind 1 John 4:16, expressed in the Amplified Bible this way:

¹⁶ And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.

In 1 John 4:8 we find an expression of who God is:

He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.

For Christian believers nothing is more satisfying than to know that God is love and that God loves us.  We can thus, follow Christ’s example as we offer our lives as sacrificial expression of our devotion to God.

The passage from Ephesians also brings to mind this poetic reminder:

In the footsteps of our faithful fathers 

Follow the steps of good men instead,

and stay on the paths of the righteous.

Proverbs 2:20

 

We still walk the paths of the righteous, chosen ones,

In the footsteps of our faithful fathers, as sons

Who must follow their lead that we might know the way,

Acknowledging God in all that we do and say.

We have not been here, for each step is strange and new.

Moving ahead, our eyes are now only on You.

As we continue to pursue the paths of truth,

We see Your guiding hand has been there since our youth.

Former days intertwined in confusion and strife,

In darkened, dead-end pathways, all bearing no life.

Along our journey we have known Your grace before,

Assured that Your favor will abound even more.

We are strengthen and encouraged in this new phase

And pledge to follow onward the rest of our days.

Elevation Worship offers “Walk in Love” inspired by Ephesians 5:1-2 and other verses:

To know God is to love

 

The Verse of the Day for September 15, 2017 is found in 1 John 4:16 in the Amplified Bible:

And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.

In 1 John 4:8 (AMP) we also find an expression of who God is:

 He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.

For Christian believers nothing is more satisfying than to know that God is love and that God loves us, and nothing can separate us from that love. This powerful declaration is reiterated in Romans 8: 38-39 (NIV):

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This passage from Romans 8 relates the constancy of the love of God which never fails. In a previous blog entry, I commented, “No matter the circumstances of our lives, whether on the pinnacles of success and dreams come true or in the pits of disappointment and failure, we are assured that God loves us. I recall a statement from the late Dr. Adrian Rodgers, “God cannot love us any more than He does, and He will not love us any less.”

God desires that each individual believer might know Him and experience His unconditional love, that is, to have a personal knowledge of who He is, to know Him as a loving father. This kind of knowing is more than “head knowledge” but relates to “heart knowledge.” A person may “know” by name the CEO of the company where that individual works, but the same person also “knows,” to a far greater degree, a co-worker who happens to be a close friend.

God desires that we know him, as He expresses His deep desire for intimacy on a very personal level. We come to know God through the Word of God which makes known the love of God.  As we establish and maintain our relationship with Him, we also experience the love of God, the most powerful force in the universe.  Once an individual knows God on such an intimate, experiential level, that person “knows for himself or herself,” and that individual is forever changed.

The closing verses of Ephesians 3 also reveal God’s desire that we experience His love, expressed in this prayer:

 To Know the Love of Christ         

To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge;

that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:19

 

Father, expand our minds and widen our comprehension

To know Your love in an even fuller dimension.

As we call upon Your name and bow in humility,

Help us to see to an even greater degree.

Enlighten our eyes with the wisdom that comes from above.

You call us beloved, worthy of endless love.

When tempted, knowing You love us dispels all fear.

As we seek to please You, open our ears that we might hear

Your word and endeavor to hide it deep within our heart.

Despite past failures, misdeeds, and shortcomings on our part,

Your love is constant and never changes but ever grows

And unfolds in matchless beauty a dew-kissed rose.

No force on Earth, no power in heaven above,

Not death nor life can separate us from Your love.

We conclude with a Truth Song “The Love of Christ” based on Ephesians 3:17b-19:

 

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us

Ephesians 5:1 in the Message Bible offers the Verse of the Day for September 17, 2016:

[Wake Up from Your Sleep] Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.

The New Living Translation offers this rendering of Ephesians 5:1-2:

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.  ‎2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

As believers we are to be imitators or mimics of God, our Father. In a similar manner to a young boy who wants to walk in his father’s shoes and wear his father’s hat, we are to be followers of God. Our lives are to be filled to overflowing with love. Our lives should be a reflection of the saying, “Like father, like son.”

This passage from Ephesians also brings to mind 1 John 4:16, expressed in the Amplified Bible this way:

¹⁶ And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.

In 1 John 4:8 we find an expression of who God is:

He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.

For Christian believers nothing is more satisfying than to know that God is love and that God loves us.  We can thus, follow Christ’s example as we offer our lives as sacrificial expression of our devotion to God.

The idea of being followers or imitators of God is established in verse 1, and verse 2 provides a notable example of such a faithful follower, as displayed in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, the ultimate illustration of “Like father, like son.”

Here is a poetic expression related to our discussion of walking in love inspired by verse 2 of Ephesians 5:

Also

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV)

We must exercise authority and know who we are.

We must then walk in the fullness of that authority

We must also recognize that our hands were made to war,

 

As we demonstrate the power within that all might see.

 

We must walk in love, for love is the more excellent way.

We know love alone is the standard by which we measure.

We seek to please God and pour love upon all we do and say.

We must love as Christ loved, for love is a priceless treasure.

 

 

We also learn that our lives should reflect our stewardship.

We know each steward shall be called to give a full account,

God, our Father, evaluates our life-long fellowship,

And assesses our service and then totals the amount.

 

 

Even more than sacrifice, God seeks our obedience,

As we too seek to fulfill the Father’s deepest desire.

We learn that to obey is the highest form of reverence:

To be like Christ is the model toward which we all aspire.

 

Once more God tempers authority with love; this we know:

As dear children, we learn to steward and obey also.

Integrity Music offers this scripture memory song for Ephesians 5:1-2:

 

He who abides in love abides in God

Revised and re-posted is the Verse of the Day for September 15, 2016 which is found in 1 John 4:16 in the Message Bible:

This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He’s given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.

The King James Version puts it this way:

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

The Amplified Bible expresses the verse in this manner:

¹⁶ And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.

In 1 John 4:8 we find an expression of who God is:

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Rendered in the Amplified Bible this way:

 He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.

For Christian believers nothing is more satisfying than to know that God is love and that God loves us, and nothing can separate us from that love.

Hillsong offers this reminder that “Our God is Love.”

In John 15:5, 8 NLT  we find parallel scriptures used by Jesus, who speaks of a parable where he uses this comparison:

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

This reference relates to the parable of the vinedresser, the vine, the branches and the fruit. That is, it explained how the Twelve were to produce a spiritual harvest for God.

The passage from John 15 records how Jesus, during the evening when he was betrayed and captured, said to the eleven apostles who remained at the table with him (Judas had departed and gone to betray the Lord), that his Father was a “vinedresser” (grape farmer), or “husbandman” as some translations have it, and that he, Jesus, was “the true vine”, and that those apostles were “branches” who were attached to Jesus, the Vine. In order to be fruitful the branches must “abide” in the vine. When the branches remain intact with the vine, God is glorified as the branches bear much fruit.  When thinking of fruit, the fruit of the spirit comes to mind, and what is the principal fruit of the passage from Galatians 5:22-24? Love, as the Scriptures also remind us.

The accompanying photo shows a fruitful vine from a vineyard that illustrates the parable where Jesus describes himself as “the true vine.”  To conclude Mike Newlin offers another rendition of this metaphor: “I am the Vine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us

Taken from Ephesians 5:1 (NKJV), the Verse of the Day for September 17, 2015, offers this exhortation, more fully expressed in verse 2 as well:

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. ² And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

The Amplified Bible puts it this way:

Ephesians 5:1-2:

Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; ² and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

A previous blog entry included the following comments which have been revised and re-posted:

As believers we are to be imitators or mimics of God, our Father. In a similar manner to a young boy who wants to walk in his father’s shoes and wear his father’s hat, we are to be followers of God. Our lives are to be filled to overflowing with love. Our lives should be a reflection of the saying, “Like father, like son.”

This passage from Ephesians 5 also brings to mind 1 John 4:16, expressed in the Amplified Bible this way:

¹⁶ And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.

In 1 John 4:8 we find an expression of who God is:

He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.

For Christian believers nothing is more satisfying than to know that God is love and that God loves us. We can thus, follow Christ’s example as we offer our lives as sacrificial expression of our devotion to God.

Here is a poetic expression related to our discussion:

Walk in Love: Our Best Defense

Don’t bite the bait,

Don’t take offense.

Walk in the love of Jesus Christ

It’s your best defense.

Scripture Memory Song

Always attacking, the Accuser stalks his prey,

Relentless in maligning Saints, both night and day.

Fiery darts of wicked words hurled in endless assaults

Deflect his evil deeds to magnify our faults.

He sets the traps, lures of the Spirit of Offense.

To counteract, we walk in love, our best defense.

He tries to trip us up, to be a stumbling block,

But we are ever vigilant around the clock.

Although we strive to reach the highest good,

Our motives are questioned; we are misunderstood.

Despite life’s challenges, we seek to rise above.

Though deeply wounded when betrayed, we still walk in love.

The thief comes to offend, falsely accuse and betray,

But we conquer through Christ, each time we trust and obey.

The accompanying video illustrates what it is like to be “Imitators of God”

He who abides in love abides in God

The Verse of the Day is found in 1 John 4:16 (NKJV):

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

The Amplified Bible expresses the verse this way:

¹⁶ And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.

In 1 John 4:8 we find an expression of who God is:

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Rendered in the Amplified Bible this way:

 He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.

For Christian believers nothing is more satisfying than to know that God is love and that God loves us, and nothing can separate us from that love.

Hillsong offers this reminder that “Our God is Love.”

In John 15:5, 8 (NLT) we find parallel scriptures used by Jesus, who speaks of a parable where he uses this comparison:

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

This reference relates the parable of the vinedresser, the vine, the branches and the fruit. That is, it explained how the Twelve were to produce a spiritual harvest for God.

The passage from John 15 records how Jesus, during the evening when he was betrayed and captured, said to the eleven apostles who remained at the table with him (Judas had departed and gone to betray the Lord), that his Father was a “vinedresser” (grape farmer), or “husbandman” as some translations have it, and that he, Jesus, was “the true vine”, and that those apostles were “branches” who were attached to Jesus, the Vine. In order to be fruitful the branches must “abide” in the vine. When the branches remain intact with the vine, God is glorified as the branches bear much fruit. When thinking of fruit, the fruit of the spirit comes to mind, and what is the principal fruit of the passage from Galatians 5:22-24? Love, as the Scriptures also remind us.

The accompanying photos show a fruitful vine from a vineyard that illustrates the parable where Jesus describes himself as “the true vine.” We conclude as Laurie Sterling offers another musical rendition of this metaphor: “You are the Vine.”

Be imitators of God: Like father, like son

Ephesians 5:1-2 (KJV) provide the Verse of the Day for January 7, 2015,

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.

The New Living Testament offers this rendering:

‎Ephesians 5:1-2:

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. ‎2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

As believers we are to be imitators or mimics of God, our Father. In a similar manner to a young boy who wants to walk in his father’s shoes and wear his father’s hat, we are to be followers of God. Our lives are to be filled to overflowing with love. Our lives should be a reflection of the familiar saying, “Like father, like son.”

This passage from Ephesians also brings to mind 1 John 4:16, expressed in the Amplified Bible this way:

¹⁶ And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.

In 1 John 4:8 we find an expression of who God is:

He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.

For Christian believers nothing is more satisfying than to know that God is love and that God loves us. We can thus, follow Christ’s example as we offer our lives as sacrificial expression of our devotion to God.

Here is a poetic expression related to our discussion of walking in love:

Also

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us,

and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice

to God for a sweet-smelling savor

Ephesians 5:2

 

We must exercise authority and know who we are.

We must then walk in the fullness of that authority

We must also recognize that our hands were made to war,

As we demonstrate the power within that all might see.

 

We must walk in love, for love is the more excellent way.

We know love alone is the standard by which we measure.

We seek to please God and pour love upon all we do and say.

We must love as Christ loved, for love is a priceless treasure.

 

We also learn that our lives should reflect our stewardship.

We know each steward shall be called to give a full account,

God, our Father, evaluates our life-long fellowship,

And assesses our service and then totals the amount.

 

Even more than sacrifice, God seeks our obedience,

As we too seek to fulfill the Father’s deepest desire.

We learn that to obey is the highest form of reverence:

To be like Christ is the model toward which we all aspire.

 

Once more God tempers authority with love; this we know:

As dear children, we learn to steward and obey also.

 

Integrity Music offers this scripture memory song for Ephesians 5:1-2: