One passage of scripture that most captures the quality, depth, breath and mind-blowing nature of God’s love is found in Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” In other words, before we cared anything about doing right and submitting to Christ, he loved us completely. This kind of love is what is referred to as agape love. It is distinguished from other types of love by its selfless nature. It is the type of love that exists for the benefit of the one to whom it is imparted. It is not dependent on external motivators. This means God loved you now as much as he did when you were in active, blatant sin, and vice versa, he loves the one in blatant sin as much as he will, when they come to him and allow his blood to cleanse them.
His love is profound, thorough and deep enough to handle the most dysfunctional heart and messed up situation. This is another aspect of the spiritual law of God’s love, that every believer who wants to overcome sin, bondage and oppression must know. You cannot defeat your enemy without being complete in his love. You cannot overcome guilt and shame without understanding and acceptance of the love and total forgiveness of God. Satan and his cohorts know this and will try to convince you, that because of your issues, sin, attitude, struggle…. whatever, that there is no way God can love you. That is a LIE from the PIT OF HELL!
God’s love is not contingent, motivated or dependent on your behavior. It exists apart from your performance exclusively for the benefit of your soul. He loves you because you are his. PERIOD!
Love itself is the only language that heals the heart. It is the foundation of our identity. It is what elevates us from our potential animalistic nature, to the potential to be conformed into his likeness, for God is love. Without love, we don’t know who we are, we are left performing instead of being, using instead of engaging, wandering instead of fulfilling. It is love from a father or mother that affirms a child’s identity. And it will only be love that fills the void created by loss, hurt, betrayal and rejection.
The Father’s love is unconditional and is persistent in seeking to permeate the most hardened heart. As Jesus stated in Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me”. Always in pursuit, always fervent, always ready to receive, forgive, and start again. That’s God’s love. Unfortunately, because we live in a fallen world and are accustomed to carnal love…man’s love, which often times is conditional, temperamental, ephemeral, inconsistent, prejudice, stoic or too emotional… we project that expectation onto our heavenly Father and HE is NOTHING LIKE THAT! God cannot and should never be reduced to the fallen standards of mankind, or the diabolical and twisted ways of the enemy. He is holy, in him is light and there exists no darkness in him. His love is perfect, unfailing, loyal, and pure. That is why Paul prayed that we would have a revelation: a spiritual eye-opening experience of the depth, breadth, height of His love towards us. Why don’t you pray that same prayer?