The Glory Of God In His Love Series

The Glory of God Series

April 27, 2008

The Glory of God in His Love

There are many ways in which love can express itself. There are many different feelings that we associate with love. Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of love is its diversity. I love my wife. I love my parents. I love my parents in a very different way than I love my wife. I love my friends, but in a very different way than my parents and my wife. Then I love chocolate. Love is a very diverse word that we use to describe our feelings towards very different things. This idea of love expresses itself in many different ways. Sometimes love is expressed through words, through gifts, through personal contact, through quality time, through service, or through sacrifice. Love is seen in many different ways. Each person has a certain love language that they speak and a love language that they receive. Some people show their love for others by serving them with all that they have. These are the kind of people who drop anything to help their friends and family. Other people show their love by telling you about it. You know the type. Where it seems that every time you see them at some point they tell you: “I love you brother” or “I love you man.” Love has many ways that it can express itself.

This week we are looking at the Glory of God in His love. This is such an important aspect of the character of God. If God didn’t care about us, the only reason to glorify Him would be out of fear of what would happen if we didn’t. God is an amazing God. He is all powerful and all knowing. He can do literally whatever He wants. No one could oppose Him and nothing can stop Him. Yet with all the cosmic power that He has He does not abuse or misuse it. He uses His power and His might for the good of His children. God is a God of love. Love is not just a part of God, it is one of His defining characteristics. God is love. He is the source of all love that exists, of everything that is good and right in the world. The love of God is such an amazing thing, that this characteristic alone is worthy of praise. We glorify God for who He is, and what He does. What God does, is love.

Love is an incredible thing. It drives us to new heights, motivates us to do things we would never do, love makes us brave, love makes us strong, love is a driving force of our lives. Love also makes us stupid. People do the stupidest things in the name of love. When you are first around that special someone it’s like for some reason you have a hard time keeping food down. You know? It’s like when he or she is around it’s like your stomach tosses and turns. You may have trouble sleeping. If you have a fight or disagreement its like there is nothing you can do to take your mind off it or think of anything else until it is resolved. Then you have times that for some reason you are totally inarticulate. You feel like you can’t speak or hardly even think properly. Whenever that person is around it is like your mind is mashed potatoes. You mumble and babbled your way through most conversations. It is so stupid. Why should love affect your appetite? Why should it affect your ability to sleep or to think? It doesn’t make any sense at all. It is like love is more powerful than reason or logic. People do the craziest things for love. They will stand up and make fools of themselves in public. People take jobs, move, leave behind family and friends, take up new hobbies, change the way they dress, and radically change their lives in the name of love.

Here’s a wonderful example of love making someone stupid. My wife and I met at the apartments we used to live at. I met her one Sunday afternoon and was just really drawn to her. She had told me where she lived so one night I had actually had John and Cindy over for diner. I had made some food and thought to myself, “If I can get her to eat this food that I made, she will surely fall in love with me.” It was a wonderful ploy. So like a total idiot I walked over to her apartment and knocked on the door. When she answered I greeted her with this perfectly crafted sentence: “Hi…I uhhh…have…I made food…that I have…and you might be hungry…and if you want…I have food,” or something to that brilliant effect. Needless to say she fell in love with my wonderful ability to speak and then we got married.