Love MercySample

The Love He has Lavished on us

Sophie and Auriette have children who received free orthopaedic surgeries onboard the Mercy Ships hospital ship in Madagascar. A crew member who was a writer asked them, “What is your favourite memory of being on the ship?” To her surprise, they both had the same answer- they deeply appreciated that everything Mercy Ships did was laced with love. The way the crew tried to make them smile. The way the crew gave colouring books to children during recovery time. The way the volunteer crew played and laughed with them. Auriette worded it this way: ‘You cure with love.’

It all starts with God loving us. A dose of God’s love accompanies every act of kindness we show to one another.  The apostle John describes this love as ‘great’, and says it has been ‘lavished on us’ – perhaps you need to hear this afresh today? God loves you. God calls you His beloved ‘child’.

And what is God’s love for us like? It is patient and kind. His love for us is not rooted in self-seeking pride, but it protects us and hopes for our best. God is not quick-tempered, but slow to anger.

God lavishes his love on us, so we see what pure love looks like and then lavish love on others.

Call to action – This passage from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is often used at weddings to set the ultimate standard that human love can aspire to, yet in this passage it actually describes God’s love for us. As you read today’s passage, mediate on each of the ‘love is’ phrases one-by-one.  This is how God loves you today!