Daily EncouragementSample

So the apostle of love defines love, and he does so in terms of the cross. For the very essence of God’s love is seen in his atoning sacrifice. William Law, one of the greatest commentators on this Epistle, writes, “Christ’s mission of propitiation not only has its motive in the Divine love, it embodies and contains the complete fullness of that love. Other acts and gifts are tokens and expressions of it; but “Herein is love” - the whole and sole equivalent in act of what God is in essence.”

Inscribed upon the cross we see,
In shining letters, “God is love”;
He bears our sins upon the Tree;
He brings us mercy from above.

This love is the love of God. There is no thought here of appeasing a reluctant deity, no suggestion of antagonism between Father and Son. In sending the Son he came himself. “The action of which, in some measure, God is Himself the object, has God Himself as its origin” (William Law).

And God has quenched
the wrath of God.

This love is sufficient for time and eternity. It is the sure foundation of fellowship with God and with one another. Nothing can separate us from “the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39).