We talk a lot about love but struggle with its practice. We do not understand the foundations of love–why we love with God’s agape love. We mistake the love described in the Bible for the human experiences of love in this world. They are not the same. They have different motives and foundations.
God’s love for us is not based on our excellence, capacity, or loveability. God’s love for us is based in who God is–not in who we are. We are loved simply because he has declared us of worth, that is, that we are beloved of him. God sees us as the ultimate goal of his love. That means we are the ends, not the means. God does not see us as a way to get his work done in this world. His love is not extended based on how well we advance his purpose in the world.
We cannot love others based on our own identity because our flawed nature would result in flawed love. We love others because God declares them beloved. We love others because they reflect God’s image.
All of this is worthy of more study than this brief writing allows.
How do you process God’s love, our love for others?