Christianity 101: Building a Firm Foundationنموونە

The Foundation of God’s Love...

…God is love.
1 John 4:8b

As we travel the hills and valleys of life, the one unshakeable, unmovable, unchanging fact the Bible declares over and over again is the astounding truth that God loves you beyond all reason.

God, who created humanity and all creatures, the heavens and earth, and holds the ever-expanding galaxies in His hand, thinks and cares about you constantly. Having this bedrock truth penetrate your heart and mind will change how you view yourself, others, and the One from whom this love originates.

The world we live in, our enemy—the devil, plus our very own thoughts tell us that it can’t possibly be true that our Heavenly Father loves us unconditionally. We not only need head knowledge—knowing this truth with our intellect, but also heart knowledge—encountering His love in our emotions. Knowing and experiencing His affection personally, combined with His Word, causes our lives and faith to become unshakeable when circumstances compel us to question this immutable foundation.

The very nature of God is pure, unconditional love for you. He loves you as if you were the only person He ever created. Let’s look at the New Testament Greek Word, Agape, used to describe His love:

Agape (noun); Agapao (verb) Greek—Meaning: Love, esteem, cherish, favor, honor, respect, accept, prize, relish; to be devoted to. Unconditional love, love by choice and by an act of the will. Agape never seeks anything but the highest good for the person whom its ardent affection is directed toward. This love is not based on chemistry, affinity, or feeling. Agape is a word that belongs almost exclusively to Christianity.

Let’s also examine one of the Old Testament Hebrew words frequently used in the Bible describing God’s love:

Hesed Hebrew—Meaning: Mercy, faithfulness, love, kindness, and unfailing love. Hesed is one of the most essential words in the Old Testament. The quality of its kindness is usually reserved for close friends and family members. Hesed is closely tied to God’s covenant with His people. Though they may prove unfaithful to this relationship, God’s hesed is everlasting.

Rest in this promise…

Surely your goodness and unfailing love (hesed) will pursue me all the days of my life…
Psalm 23:6 NLT

• From Jeremiah 31:3, what is the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart?
• Psalm 139:1-12 reminds us that Jesus will never leave us. How are you encouraged?
• Psalm 139:13-18 delves deep to remind you how special you are to Him. What touches your thoughts as you read?
• The promises of the OT are ours in Christ (Gal.5:16). As you read Isaiah 43:1-3, insert your name to replace Jacob or Israel. How are you comforted?