I John 4:8 “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

I Cor. 13:4-8 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

Does this kind of love describe the way we love? No. This type of love is characteristic of our Heavenly Father. Not only does it describe him but it defines him. His word tells us that he IS love. So, let’s consider how a God who is like this would respond to us in times when we fail. Ok, we mess up…big time. And now we have to face a God who: never loses patience with us, is kind, does not have his ego hurt because of what we do, will not cuss us out, is only interested in what is best for us (not himself), does not get angry easily and has already forgotten everything else we have done that he has already forgiven us for. He is a God who rejoices and celebrates when we finally understand and come to the truth, he has always protected us (even when we were away in our sinning), he is prepared to trust us again, he has not, nor will he ever, lose hope for us, he will not grow weary of our making mistakes and he will NEVER fail us. So…why is it again we are afraid to run to him quickly after we sin?

Pray: “Lord God, I forget that you do not love like we love. So often when we fail each other we are harsh and unforgiving. We don’t treat each other well and sometimes even hold those mistakes over one another. But I understand in my heart you are not like that. Help me to adjust my image of you in such a way that I run to you when I make mistakes, trusting and knowing you love me unconditionally. In Jesus’ powerful name I pray - Amen.”