The Character of God Series: God Is Love

God is Love

God’s love manifested as hesed which means His abiding loyalty to His covenant and covenantal relationships. Hesed is a steadfast, rock-solid faithfulness that endures to eternity. A love that is richer and deeper than anything we can conceive. “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love (hesed) for you will not be shaken. —Isaiah 54:10  

A love that is so enduring that it persists beyond any sin or betrayal to mend brokenness and graciously extend forgiveness. “For the Lord will not  cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love (hesed), for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men (human beings). —Lamentations 3:31-33

Hesed is to love as God loves. Like other Hebrew verbs, hesed is not just a feeling but an action. It intervenes on behalf of loved ones and comes to their rescue. If we want to know what love is like, look at God. God defines what love is. The Apostle John emphasizes that God is love in 1 John 4:8-10, “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation (payment) for our sins.”  Verse 16 says, “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” John’s point is that God defines what love is. Take a look at His character, His actions, His emotions and you will see what love is like.

Hesed is a bone-weary father or mother who drives through the night to bail their drug addicted son or daughter out of jail. Hesed is a parent or grandparent who spends day after  day working with a grandchild distance learning and remote training to successfuly finish out the school year. Hesed is love that can be counted on through out eternity.

God’s love for His people means that He desires their holiness and cannot tolerate continual, unrepentant sinfulness. His love led Him to send His only Son to resolve the problem of human sinfulness by grace. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16 ESV

This does not mean that life will be trouble free. Jesus said in this world we will have trouble. But take heart! He has overcome the world.” —John 16:33

May the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:7

Blessings,

Dr. A

Note: All Scriptures are taken from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.