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If
I had to choose one attribute of God that produces victory in the lives
of believers, then I would pick the attribute of love. The Bible says
that "God is love." The Apostle Paul encouraged the Christians at Ephesus
to grow in their knowledge of God "so that Christ may dwell in your
hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established
in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how
wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this
love that surpasses knowledge-- that you may be filled to the measure
of all the fullness of God" (Eph. 3:17-19 NIV).
If we are going to grow into victorious, vibrant believers, then it's imperative to get to know God in His great love. An old '50s song says, "I wonder, wonder who... who wrote the book of love." Actually, that question was answered 2000 years ago. God wrote it, and it's called the Bible. It's God's great love letter to His children. Its main character is the Author and Creator of perfect love. He loved those that no one else cared for. He loved so much that it hurt. He loved even those who hated Him. He loved the lonely - the sick - the poor - the needy - and the rejected. He loved those filled with guilt, anger, bitterness, sin, and hate. Tens of thousands of books have been written about His great love. Multitudes of articles have been printed in an attempt to describe that great love.
The love of God which is found in Jesus is so great that Paul wanted that band of believers in Ephesus to know how long, high, wide and deep it was. He wanted them to have a personal knowledge of the greatness of Christ's love. Paul knew that their growth in Christ was dependant on the knowledge of that love. We, too, must understand that victory in the Christian life is to a great extent related to our personal knowledge of God's love.
When I first came to know Christ, I was consumed with His love. I was overwhelmed with the fact that the Creator and Sustainer of the universe loved me. Wow! But, even more incredible than that fact - was how much He loved me. He loved me enough to allow His own Son, Jesus, to take the punishment for my sins. No one ever loved me like that. His love drove me to share the good news with any one and everyone who would listen. However, as I grew in my faith and understanding of God, I began to notice that I was taking His love for granted. When I presumed on the love of God, I found myself dry and defeated. I needed to be revived.
That's why I need to drink daily from the fountain of God's love. It's a spring that's everlasting - without beginning and end. The more I drink, the greater its flow. The higher I climb, the greater the thrill of the love of God. The deeper the trials, the sweeter His love tastes. The wider my circle of influence and acquaintances, the broader His embrace reaches. The longer I walk with Him, the farther I can see the love of God. His love is refreshing. It restores my soul - renews my laughter - and brightens my day. Perhaps that's why the 19th century evangelist, D. L. Moody, had painted in one of his the buildings the words, "God is love." He wanted everyone who visited Chicago and even the whole world to know that there is a God whose very essence is love.
Come and drink of that fountain! Taste and see that the Lord is good!
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