Why is it that the “love of God” is the bedrock of our lives as Christians?  First, let us be reminded of what kind of “love” this is.  There are several words in the koine Greek that are translated “love.”  Each has their own connotation.  But the word used for God’s “love” comes from the Greek word agape.  Agape is defined this way:

      “The essence of agape love is goodwill, benevolence, and willful delight in the object of love.  Agape love involves faithfulness, commitment, and an act of the will.”

      We, clearly defined and exposed as wretched sinners, take great joy and comfort in the fact that God loves (agape) us in spite of all our weaknesses and rebellion against Him.  The love God has for us stems from Him, not our merit.  Powerful, all-mighty, holy God made the decision to love us undeserving sinners for all eternity.

 there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus....neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 8:1,38-39).

      No wonder the “love of God” becomes the bedrock of our joy and comfort.  Today’s My Utmost for His Highest reminds us of this “bedrock:”

      “But the remarkable thing is that nothing can come between the love of God and a saint. Our sins and unrighteousness can and do disrupt the close fellowship of our soul with God and separate our natural life from Him. But none of them is able to come between the love of God and the soul of a saint on the spiritual level. The underlying foundation of the Christian faith is the undeserved, limitless miracle of the love of God that was exhibited on the Cross of Calvary; a love that is not earned and can never be. Paul said this is the reason that “in all these things we are more than conquerors.” We are super-victors with a joy that comes from experiencing the very things which look as if they are going to overwhelm us.

The undiminished radiance, which is the result of abundant joy, is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can change. And the experiences of life, whether they are everyday events or terrifying ones, are powerless to “separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).”

     None of us deserves the love (agape) of God.  But it’s not a license to sin knowing God loves us unconditionally, but rather, when we realize how God loves us, we are compelled to serve Him by being obedient to His Word and know that no matter what we are facing today, we are the focus of God’s undiminished love...forever.  My prayer for you and me this morning is this:  Lord, what can we say to this truth...You love us.  It is indeed our bedrock and joy.  All through endless eternity we will have wonder and joy over Your agape for us.  Our hearts well up in praise and thanksgiving.  Amen.

     In 1917, Fredrick Lehman wrote these words which express our wonder and joy:

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
and were the skies of parchment made;
were ev’ry stalk on earth a quill,
and ev’ryone a scribe by trade;
to write the love of God above
would drain the ocean dry;
nor could the scroll contain the whole,
 though stretched from sky to sky

.O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
 the saints’ and angels’ song.

Walk with the King today and be a blessing.