3:344- Math Substitution: Love. God

#faithbites #faithjourney math

Setting

This morning, I was thinking about all of the times that I tell myself God doesn’t love me, or I don’t deserve God’s love because I’m a broken sinner. Even though I know that Jesus forgives, I’m still not good enough for his love. That led my brain down the rabbit hole of math, don’t ask how, to the transitive law. As a quick reminder, if a=b and b=c, then a=c. I know I may be losing you here especially since I started out that sometimes I, and maybe we, feel that we don’t deserve God’s love. The truth is, God is Love and he made us in his image to be loved, and no matter what we do he loves us. That’s the awesome thing about our God.

Now, let’s see how the transitive law applies.

Scripture

• 1 John 4:8 – Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
• 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Reflection

If God is love, then we could rewrite 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 as this: God is patient, God is kind. He does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ He does not dishonor others, he is not self-seeking, he is not easily angered, he keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Go back and read that again. If we believe that God’s word is true AND God is Love, then all of those statements are true. What an awesome God we have. Also, if that all is true, then there is nothing you can do to make you unworthy of his love and his forgiveness.

We could also replace Jesus with God in any of those situations as he is God.

In closing, next to our bed, we have two framed sayings. One is Love is Patient and the other is Love is Kind. Usually, we use them to refer to our marriage and marital love, but it is also a reminder of God’s awesome presence in our lives. How is God showing his neverending steadfast love for you?

Challenge

Challenge yourself to stop trying to earn God’s love. Don’t say you are less worthy of it because you made a mistake. God is love and doesn’t keep track of wrongs because he gave his Son to forgive us. You are loved

Prayer

Father God, thank you for reminding us that you are love and you do not envy, boast, do not dishonor, do not get angry, and keep no records of our wrong. We want to thank you for your Son and his forgiveness of our sins. You have given such love to us, no matter what we do. We may feel that we are not worthy of your love, but time and time again, you prove this isn’t the case.

Lord, while we know we don’t have to earn your love, we pray that our thoughts, actions, and deeds are acceptable in your sight and advance your mission here on Earth. In your name, Amen.